Fast Frequency Response Plus (FFR+)

Important Dates & Materials

Feb. 13 | Deadline for Market Sounding Requests

Feb. 6 | Materials posted

Feb. 4 | Stakeholder Update (below) and Materials posted

Feb. 4, 2026 | Stakeholder Update

We have posted the consolidated feedback received from stakeholders on January 19. We will also be publishing a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document by the end of this week to respond to some of the items raised.

Draft Preliminary Requirements

The AESO is providing stakeholders with draft preliminary requirements that an asset must meet to participate in the AESO’s expected FFR+ procurement. These requirements are preliminary, being provided for information purposes only, and intended for discussion with stakeholders interested in participating. They are subject to change at the AESO’s discretion and use of or reliance on such requirements is at the market participant’s sole risk. We will provide updated preliminary requirements before the April 30, 2026, Cluster 3 System Access Service Request deadline.

FFR+ Preliminary Requirements

Market Sounding Meetings

To continue progressing the FFR+ design, we invite potential proponents to meet virtually one-on-one for market sounding over the next several weeks. The market sounding meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss and gather feedback on FFR+ draft preliminary requirements and project implementation timelines.

We will share key themes from the market sounding meetings with stakeholders on AESO Engage along with resulting updates.

Identification of Prospective FFR+ Service Providers

The AESO values stakeholder input and invites potential proponents with a new energy storage asset that may materially meet the draft preliminary requirements to request a meeting with the AESO at their earliest convenience by emailing ffrservices@aeso.ca with your name and organization. All market sounding requests must be made before February 13, 2026, and the AESO will use all feedback received in market sounding before February 25 to inform the updated requirements.

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.

How to use the Discussion Forum Tool



Important Dates & Materials

Feb. 13 | Deadline for Market Sounding Requests

Feb. 6 | Materials posted

Feb. 4 | Stakeholder Update (below) and Materials posted

Feb. 4, 2026 | Stakeholder Update

We have posted the consolidated feedback received from stakeholders on January 19. We will also be publishing a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document by the end of this week to respond to some of the items raised.

Draft Preliminary Requirements

The AESO is providing stakeholders with draft preliminary requirements that an asset must meet to participate in the AESO’s expected FFR+ procurement. These requirements are preliminary, being provided for information purposes only, and intended for discussion with stakeholders interested in participating. They are subject to change at the AESO’s discretion and use of or reliance on such requirements is at the market participant’s sole risk. We will provide updated preliminary requirements before the April 30, 2026, Cluster 3 System Access Service Request deadline.

FFR+ Preliminary Requirements

Market Sounding Meetings

To continue progressing the FFR+ design, we invite potential proponents to meet virtually one-on-one for market sounding over the next several weeks. The market sounding meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss and gather feedback on FFR+ draft preliminary requirements and project implementation timelines.

We will share key themes from the market sounding meetings with stakeholders on AESO Engage along with resulting updates.

Identification of Prospective FFR+ Service Providers

The AESO values stakeholder input and invites potential proponents with a new energy storage asset that may materially meet the draft preliminary requirements to request a meeting with the AESO at their earliest convenience by emailing ffrservices@aeso.ca with your name and organization. All market sounding requests must be made before February 13, 2026, and the AESO will use all feedback received in market sounding before February 25 to inform the updated requirements.

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.

How to use the Discussion Forum Tool



  • Stakeholder Updates

    Dec. 17, 2025

    We posted this FFR High-Level Design Update and are targeting the following timeline for next steps:

    • Engage on FFR+ high-level eligibility requirements: Early Q1 2026
    • File request for guidance with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC): Q1 2026
    • FFR+ stakeholder session: Q2/Q3 2026 (subject to AUC guidance)
    • Commence procurement for Market-Based FFR: Q2/Q3 2026
    • Commence FFR+ RFP (subject to AUC guidance): Q4 2026


    We value stakeholder input and invite written comments on the proposed design by January 19, 2026. This comment period is optional and the AESO will include all comments in their original format as part of its request for guidance with the AUC. Stakeholders can also participate in the AUC process.

    Aug. 25, 2025

    Based on the stakeholder feedback from the FFR+ Rationale Document published on June 18, the Stakeholder Session held on July 23, and subsequent follow-up discussions with stakeholders, the AESO is exploring additional concepts and associated product and procurement designs. The Addendum to FFR+ Rationale Document, posted today, presents these concepts and alternative designs. We are seeking stakeholder feedback on these, including whether they appropriately balance the four principles set out in the Electric Utilities Act (s. 17.1(2)) and whether they are in the public interest.

    June 18, 2025

    We will engage with stakeholders on the proposed FFR+ product and procurement design to satisfy the requirements of the Direction while maintaining the sanctity of Alberta’s energy-only market.

    The AESO is seeking initial written feedback from industry on

    • aspects of the high-level design where additional information may be required, or which should be an area of focus at the upcoming engagement session
    • alternative design approaches that may better balance the objectives set out in Section 17.1(2) of the Energy and Utilities Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 52) while satisfying the requirements of the Direction

    A hybrid stakeholder engagement session will be held on July 23, 2025 to:

    • discuss the proposed product and procurement design branded as FFR+
    • seek input on key elements
    • share alternative design approaches from industry
    • outline the AESO’s intent to include a process with the Alberta Utilities Commission to guide the procurement and product design

    Please complete your registration by 4:00 p.m. MT on Friday, July 4.

Page last updated: 06 Feb 2026, 01:22 PM