Procurement of Frequency Response to Meet Reliability Requirements 

At its June 2023 AESO Stakeholder Symposium and in the AESO 2023 Reliability Requirements Roadmap, the AESO identified an incremental need for frequency response to meet Alberta reliability requirements.  

Since the June symposium, the AESO has identified an opportunity to enter into a transferred frequency response agreement with another balancing authority within the Western Interconnection. As of September 1, 2023, the AESO competitively procured transferred frequency response from a balancing authority external to Alberta. This approach provides a low-cost means to address the AESO’s BAL-003 frequency obligation.   

The AESO will explore longer-term solutions for frequency response through the Market Pathways initiative, which will identify future market designs required to support reliability and address operational challenges on the Alberta Interconnected Electric System.