Fast Frequency Response Plus (FFR+)
Important Materials and Deadlines
August 13, 2025 | Stakeholder information session summary posted
July 25, 2025 | Stakeholder information session recording posted
July 17, 2025 | Stakeholder information session presentation posted
Purpose
We are engaging on the procurement of a new ancillary service - Fast Frequency Response Plus (“FFR+”) to meet the requirements outlined in the December 10, 2024 Government of Alberta direction letter, anticipated changes to the Transmission Regulation, and the now-effective ancillary services provisions in the Energy and Utilities Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 52) (together, the “Direction”).
Through this engagement, the AESO is seeking input on the proposed design of FFR+, a new ancillary service intended to procure highly available fast frequency response to support full import flows on the Alberta-British Columbia and Montana-Alberta interties.
Background
The AESO is developing FFR+, a new, highly available ancillary service to provide a near-instantaneous response to arrest frequency decline following an intertie trip. The “plus” reflects that FFR+ is available at all times and may include other grid reliability services that are not procured through a market. The AESO is developing FFR+ in response to the Direction, which requires the AESO to procure ancillary services sufficient to support import flows of up to 800 MW capability of the Alberta-British Columbia intertie (which is expected to increase over time) and up to 300 MW on the Montana-Alberta intertie.
The AESO currently procures FFR through voluntary arrangements that do not guarantee high availability. To meet the new requirements, the AESO is proposing to competitively procure up to 750 MW of highly available FFR+ through commercial contracts.
