Important Materials & Deadlines

May 27 | Congestion Portal Information Session Virtual Registration Open

May 12 | Go Live Launch of Congestion Portal on AESO.ca

• Guidance and Instructional Materials to be Posted

Purpose and Objectives

The AESO is introducing a new online, self‑serve Congestion Portal that provides market participants project‑specific congestion insights. This tool replaces the current manual process and allows more accurate and relevant information for project planning.

The purpose of the Congestion Portal is to improve access to actionable congestion information. Current congestion assessments use extreme scenarios and are not well aligned with individual project needs. The portal enables developers to perform their own tailored congestion queries, helping them determine more informed investment decisions with minimal delay. Only projects that meet specific criteria are included, providing a more accurate view of congestion based on realistic project scenarios.

• Faster insights: Avoids the current ~9‑month cycle for congestion assessment publications
• Clearer data: Access consistent, data‑driven insights based on AESO study assumptions
• More certainty: View preliminary congestion impacts earlier in project development
• Improved decision‑making: Identify better project locations and anticipate risks sooner
• Ongoing access: Revisit the tool anytime as projects evolve
• Better Support for the Cluster Assessment Process
  • Earlier screening prior to SASR submissions
  • More efficient cluster assessments by reducing the need for manual AESO congestion estimate and assessment work
  • Better alignment with updated congestion‑free policy requirements (Optimal transmission planning)