Welcome to this week's edition of IPPSA Intelligence! |
Upcoming IPPSA Event A Conversation with the Honourable RJ Sigurdson Wednesday, October 28, 2026 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | |
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Alberta Electric System Operator |
Alberta directs AESO on incumbency recognition framework; ITP allocations published Market & Regulation On October 2, the Government of Alberta formally directed the AESO to implement the incumbency recognition framework for the REM transition, with the AESO publishing the accompanying Incumbency Transition Payment Allocations list. The AESO also released a schedule of October stakeholder sessions covering REM Rules, Alberta Time Change Administrative Amendments, High Complexity ARS Sync Up, Internal Demand Rates, and REM IT Systems — with feedback deadlines running from October 8 to October 30. Correction letters addressing the High Complexity ARS Sync Up and ISO Rules revision histories were posted September 29 and October 7. Stakeholder feedback on the Connection Project List is due October 23. |
Alberta names new Deputy Minister of Affordability and Utilities Other An Order in Council dated October 9 announced the appointment of a new Deputy Minister of Affordability and Utilities. Bryce Stewart is a senior Alberta public servant with extensive experience in provincial policy development, strategic planning and government administration. He joined the Government of Alberta in 2006 after earlier work in architectural technology, pipeline drafting and municipal government. His early provincial career included serving as a Senior Analyst in Electricity Retail Policy from 2006 to 2008, giving him direct exposure to Alberta’s electricity sector. He subsequently held numerous senior leadership positions, including assistant deputy minister roles across several ministries, Associate Deputy Minister of Health, Deputy Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, and Deputy Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors. Stewart brings significant institutional knowledge of Alberta’s public service, having worked across multiple departments and administrations, with experience spanning policy coordination, budgeting, strategic planning and public-sector leadership. His background in electricity retail policy and broad government experience provide a foundation for his new role as Deputy Minister responsible for electricity in Alberta. |
Emera proposes $14.3B merger with ATCO and Canadian Utilities to form a $72B utility Companies & Projects Emera has proposed a $14.3-billion merger with ATCO and Canadian Utilities that would create one of North America's largest utility companies, valued at roughly $35 billion in equity or $72 billion including debt. Emera shareholders would hold 60%, with ATCO and Canadian Utilities holding the remainder. The combined entity would target $32 billion in investment through 2030 across data centres, pipelines, and interprovincial grid links. Talks began about 15 months ago and were encouraged by the Carney government's infrastructure ambitions. For Alberta, a merged ATCO/Canadian Utilities operating within a larger continental-scale utility raises material questions about asset ownership, rate structures, and the competitive dynamics of the province's distribution and transmission segments. |
University of Calgary opens new centre for electricity research Electricity The University of Calgary’s Electricity Centre, officially launched on October 2, 2026, is a new interdisciplinary hub intended to help Canada navigate the rapidly evolving electricity sector by bringing together academic researchers, industry participants and policymakers. Building on UCalgary’s established strengths in energy research, the Centre will focus on three pillars: interdisciplinary research into the technical, economic and policy challenges facing electricity systems; training the next generation of electricity-sector professionals and leaders; and public engagement to improve understanding of key electricity issues. Initiatives will include research partnerships, a data hub, policy training, seminars and the established Electricity Camp in the Rockies. For Alberta’s electricity industry, the Centre offers a potential bridge between academic evidence and practical market and policy decisions, helping inform discussions about how to build a reliable, affordable and competitive electricity system. |
Edmonton council raises electricity franchise fee to 19.4%, effective January 2027 Electricity Edmonton city council voted 8–5 to increase the electricity franchise fee from 17.65% to 19.4% of total distribution charges, taking effect January 1, 2027. The fee is levied on EPCOR for the exclusive right to distribute power in Edmonton and flows through to ratepayers' bills. Council had initially targeted the AUC maximum of 20% — which would have added $14.8 million in 2027 revenue for a total of $125.6 million — but settled at 19.4% to match Calgary's rate. |
AESO to launch REM without real-time deliverability constraint on 30-minute ramping reserve Market & Regulation The AESO confirmed it will launch the Restructured Energy Market without a real-time deliverability constraint on the 30-minute ramping reserve product. The decision is significant against a backdrop of worsening curtailment: transmission constraints forced wind and solar curtailment in 65% of Q2 2026 hours, up from 54% in Q2 2025. Launching without this constraint simplifies the initial REM design but leaves open questions about whether ramping reserve capacity will be physically deliverable across a congested grid. |
SaskPower selects Rafferty Reservoir near Estevan for Saskatchewan's first SMR study Nuclear SaskPower has chosen the Rafferty Reservoir site near Estevan, Saskatchewan, for further study as the candidate location for the province's first small modular reactor. The plan is explicitly framed as a coal replacement strategy, with Saskatchewan's coal plants scheduled to close by 2050. Site readiness work is expected to begin next year. |
Hydro-Québec proposes 13-cent/kWh rate for data centres over 5 MW as regulator hearing wraps first phase The Globe and Mail Hydro-Québec is seeking a dedicated electricity rate for data centres consuming more than five megawatts, proposing an average of 13 cents per kWh — roughly double what large industrial customers currently pay. The Régie de l'énergie is holding public hearings, with Google's lawyers and an environmental coalition both pressing Hydro-Québec consultants on the proposal. The utility projects data-centre demand could more than double from 2024 to 2030 on AI-driven growth. The hearing resumes in December. How Québec prices this load class will be watched closely by other jurisdictions, including Alberta, where data-centre demand growth and generator cost recovery are live policy questions. |
Global battery storage up 40% in 2025; Canada nears 1 GW, Ontario leads; AESO developing 750 MW FFR+ procurement Storage & Emerging The IEA reports 108 GW of new battery storage was deployed globally in 2025, a 40% year-over-year increase, with roughly 80% utility-scale. Canada's installed storage more than doubled to nearly 1 GW, led by Ontario, where the 300 MW / 1,200 MWh Hagersville project entered commercial operation in February 2026 as the country's largest operational BESS facility. Ontario's IESO Long-Term 2 process also selected 640 MW of new battery storage contracts. For Alberta, the AESO is developing Fast Frequency Response Plus (FFR+) and has proposed procuring up to 750 MW of highly available BESS to address frequency stability following intertie trips. |
IPPSA's Mandate IPPSA's mission is to convene industry, providing information, resources, and a forum for knowledge sharing, and to create opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, and education. This newsletter is meant to inform members but not advocate for specific outcomes. We always appreciate your feedback at info@ippsa.com. |
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