Fast Frequency Response Plus (FFR+)

Important Dates & Materials

April 15 | Stakeholder Update (below) and FFR+ Updated Requirements posted (revised April 16)

March 25 | Stakeholder Update and FFR+ Market Sounding Key Themes posted

Feb. 13 | Deadline for Market Sounding Requests

Feb. 6 | Materials posted

Feb. 4 | Stakeholder Update and Materials posted

April 15, 2026 | Stakeholder Update

Amendments to Transmission Regulation

The Transmission Regulation was amended in March 2026 and requires that the AESO make all reasonable efforts to procure ancillary services in amounts sufficient to support full import flows as soon as practicable. The amendment reinforces the direction given to the AESO in the October 25, 2025, Minister of Affordability and Utilities (MAU) Letter, to “take all reasonable efforts to enable full restoration of the Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL) Available Transfer Capability (ATC) in 2029”.The AESO continues to pursue this direction through the FFR+ procurement, while maintaining regard for reliability, technical feasibility, costs and the principles of fairness, efficiency and open competition.

To meet these objectives, the AESO:

  • requires projects that can reasonably be expected to provide FFR+ in 2029;
  • will no longer pursue a reference question with the Alberta Utilities Commission; and
  • re-confirms the target to initiate the procurement in the second half of 2026.

FFR+ Requirements Update

The AESO has posted updated FFR+ requirements that an asset must meet to participate in the FFR+ procurement. These requirements reflect progress in detailed product design, incorporate market sounding results and maximize competition to restore the intertie in 2029. We will hold a stakeholder session to share additional information.

Purpose

We are engaging on the procurement of highly available Fast Frequency Response (“FFR”) to meet the requirements outlined in the amended Transmission Regulation, Alberta Regulation 86/2007, and the ancillary services provisions in the Energy and Utilities Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 52). Through this engagement, the AESO is seeking input on different product and procurement designs for highly available FFR to support full import flows on the Alberta-British Columbia and Montana-Alberta interties.

Background

We developed an initial preliminary design of FFR+, a highly available ancillary service to provide a near-instantaneous response to arrest frequency decline following an intertie trip. The “plus” reflects that FFR+ is always available and may include other grid reliability services that are not procured through a market. The AESO has developed FFR+ in response to the amended Transmission Regulation, which requires the AESO to make arrangements to procure ancillary services sufficient to support import flows of up to 800 MW capability on the Alberta-British Columbia intertie (which is expected to increase over time) and up to 300 MW on the Montana-Alberta intertie.

We currently procure 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.

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Important Dates & Materials

April 15 | Stakeholder Update (below) and FFR+ Updated Requirements posted (revised April 16)

March 25 | Stakeholder Update and FFR+ Market Sounding Key Themes posted

Feb. 13 | Deadline for Market Sounding Requests

Feb. 6 | Materials posted

Feb. 4 | Stakeholder Update and Materials posted

April 15, 2026 | Stakeholder Update

Amendments to Transmission Regulation

The Transmission Regulation was amended in March 2026 and requires that the AESO make all reasonable efforts to procure ancillary services in amounts sufficient to support full import flows as soon as practicable. The amendment reinforces the direction given to the AESO in the October 25, 2025, Minister of Affordability and Utilities (MAU) Letter, to “take all reasonable efforts to enable full restoration of the Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL) Available Transfer Capability (ATC) in 2029”.The AESO continues to pursue this direction through the FFR+ procurement, while maintaining regard for reliability, technical feasibility, costs and the principles of fairness, efficiency and open competition.

To meet these objectives, the AESO:

  • requires projects that can reasonably be expected to provide FFR+ in 2029;
  • will no longer pursue a reference question with the Alberta Utilities Commission; and
  • re-confirms the target to initiate the procurement in the second half of 2026.

FFR+ Requirements Update

The AESO has posted updated FFR+ requirements that an asset must meet to participate in the FFR+ procurement. These requirements reflect progress in detailed product design, incorporate market sounding results and maximize competition to restore the intertie in 2029. We will hold a stakeholder session to share additional information.

Purpose

We are engaging on the procurement of highly available Fast Frequency Response (“FFR”) to meet the requirements outlined in the amended Transmission Regulation, Alberta Regulation 86/2007, and the ancillary services provisions in the Energy and Utilities Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 52). Through this engagement, the AESO is seeking input on different product and procurement designs for highly available FFR to support full import flows on the Alberta-British Columbia and Montana-Alberta interties.

Background

We developed an initial preliminary design of FFR+, a highly available ancillary service to provide a near-instantaneous response to arrest frequency decline following an intertie trip. The “plus” reflects that FFR+ is always available and may include other grid reliability services that are not procured through a market. The AESO has developed FFR+ in response to the amended Transmission Regulation, which requires the AESO to make arrangements to procure ancillary services sufficient to support import flows of up to 800 MW capability on the Alberta-British Columbia intertie (which is expected to increase over time) and up to 300 MW on the Montana-Alberta intertie.

We currently procure 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.

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Discussions: All (5) Open (0)

  • Discussion Forum | Instructions

    10 months ago
    CLOSED: This discussion forum has concluded.

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    June 18 - July 4, 2025

    This series of questions are for stakeholders to consider after reading the Rationale for Ancillary Service Procurement for Intertie Restoration: Fast Frequency Response Plus (FFR+). Responses will help us ensure the engagement session on July 23 is informative and engaging. 

    This Discussion Forum will be open until 4:00 p.m. MT on Friday, July 4.

    Things To Keep in Mind

    This public forum serves as a collaborative space where stakeholders can share and discuss their thoughts, suggestions, and creative solutions. To maintain a respectful and constructive environment, it's essential that all content submitted is appropriate and adheres to community guidelines. This ensures that everyone's contributions are valuable and that the board remains a positive and inclusive space for dialogue and innovation. The AESO will use this initial input from stakeholders to finalize our content for the upcoming engagement session. 

    June 18 - July 4, 2025

    This series of questions are for stakeholders to consider after reading the Rationale for Ancillary Service Procurement for Intertie Restoration: Fast Frequency Response Plus (FFR+). Responses will help us ensure the engagement session on July 23 is informative and engaging. 

    This Discussion Forum will be open until 4:00 p.m. MT on Friday, July 4.

    Things To Keep in Mind

    This public forum serves as a collaborative space where stakeholders can share and discuss their thoughts, suggestions, and creative solutions. To maintain a respectful and constructive environment, it's essential that all content submitted is appropriate and adheres to community guidelines. This ensures that everyone's contributions are valuable and that the board remains a positive and inclusive space for dialogue and innovation. The AESO will use this initial input from stakeholders to finalize our content for the upcoming engagement session. 

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  • Breakout Topics

    11 months ago
    5 Responses
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    We are proposing the following three questions be discussed in breakouts at the session. Do you agree?  If not, please provide input or suggest alternate questions along with rationale.

    1. What role should a FFR market play (if any) in satisfying the requirements of the Direction to support full import flows?
    2. Should stacking other reliability services not procured through a market be permitted using the same capacity procured for FFR?
    3. Should new assets supported through long-term FFR+ contracts be permitted to participate in the market following the expiry of the contract?  If so, under what conditions?

    We are proposing the following three questions be discussed in breakouts at the session. Do you agree?  If not, please provide input or suggest alternate questions along with rationale.

    1. What role should a FFR market play (if any) in satisfying the requirements of the Direction to support full import flows?
    2. Should stacking other reliability services not procured through a market be permitted using the same capacity procured for FFR?
    3. Should new assets supported through long-term FFR+ contracts be permitted to participate in the market following the expiry of the contract?  If so, under what conditions?
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  • Additional Information

    11 months ago
    4 Responses
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    What additional information would help you better assess the AESO’s proposed FFR+ design and rationale to support meaningful engagement?

    What additional information would help you better assess the AESO’s proposed FFR+ design and rationale to support meaningful engagement?

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  • Design Approach

    11 months ago
    4 Responses
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    Is there another design for an ancillary service that the AESO should consider that balance the four objectives from Section 17.1(2) of the Act to satisfy the obligations of the Direction Letter?

    Is there another design for an ancillary service that the AESO should consider that balance the four objectives from Section 17.1(2) of the Act to satisfy the obligations of the Direction Letter?

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  • Other

    11 months ago
    6 Responses
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    Is there anything else you’d like the AESO to consider regarding the FFR+ design and to cover at the stakeholder engagement session?

    Is there anything else you’d like the AESO to consider regarding the FFR+ design and to cover at the stakeholder engagement session?

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Page last updated: 08 May 2026, 10:48 AM