Funding for Participation in REM Engagements

Key Dates and Materials

May 30 | Materials posted:

May 26 | Deadline - Funding Applications

May 14 | Stakeholder Update and materials posted:

April 30 | AESO Process - Funding for REM Stakeholder Engagement Participation

May 14 | Stakeholder Update

We received feedback from ADC, AFREA, the CCA, CanREA, IPCAA, and Voltus regarding the proposed funding process for the REM Market Design and ISO rules engagement. All confirmed the need for funding from the AESO to support their continued participation. The submissions have been consolidated and published.

Highlights from the submissions include:

  • A request to increase the funding cap per participant from $50,000 to $100,000, but the AESO considers $50,000 sufficient to ensure more participants can access funding.
  • Requests for funding to address costs already incurred; however, the AESO does not find retroactive funding appropriate, as the REM technical design is ongoing and future engagement opportunities remain.
  • A request for guaranteed funding, advance funding, and a review of the reasonableness of claimed costs, but the AESO does not view it as suitable to assess participation costs. Instead, a $50,000 cap, adherence to established Alberta Utilities Commission Rule 022: Rules on Costs in Utility Rate Proceedings, with a process for partial funding after the engagement on the REM Technical Design is complete, then again after the Rules consultation is complete, to address ongoing needs.

We have reviewed the feedback, appreciate the inputs provided, and encourage any interested market participants (or associations of market participants) to apply for funding. The funding process will proceed as initially proposed. The application form is now available.

The period for market participants or other associations to apply for funding is May 15 to May 26, 2025.

Purpose

The AESO will provide limited funding market participants, or associations of market participants (to a maximum of $50,000 per market participant) to enable their ongoing participation in the AESO’s stakeholder engagements on the market design and ISO rules for the restructured energy market (the REM Engagements).

We understand that some market participants may not have sufficient funds to support their ongoing participation in the REM Engagements. The resulting market design and ISO rules will not initially be subject to an Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) proceeding and approval process, through which similar funding would otherwise be available.

Background

Consistent with direction from the Government of Alberta, the AESO began to solicit stakeholder feedback on a design for the REM in March of 2024, with a goal of creating a robust market design to ensure that Alberta’s electricity framework remains affordable, reliable, investable and sustainable for generations to come.

In December 2024, the Government of Alberta announced that it would bring forward the necessary policy tools to allow the initial set of ISO rules required for the REM to be enacted via legislation. Under this approach, the REM design and rules would be initially approved by Government and will not initially be subject to consideration or approval by the AUC.

To date, the AESO has completed several rounds of in-person and virtual information sessions, design sprints, design finalization sessions, and written feedback to progress and finalize the REM design. At each stage of the engagement, participation from a broad range of stakeholders from across the province and industry has been critical. The AESO understands that participation in the REM Engagements has been time and resource-intensive, and that certain stakeholders may be unable to continue their involvement in the REM Engagements for financial reasons.

The AESO will encourage ongoing stakeholder participation in the REM Engagements by supporting eligible market participants with this funding.

Key Dates and Materials

May 30 | Materials posted:

May 26 | Deadline - Funding Applications

May 14 | Stakeholder Update and materials posted:

April 30 | AESO Process - Funding for REM Stakeholder Engagement Participation

May 14 | Stakeholder Update

We received feedback from ADC, AFREA, the CCA, CanREA, IPCAA, and Voltus regarding the proposed funding process for the REM Market Design and ISO rules engagement. All confirmed the need for funding from the AESO to support their continued participation. The submissions have been consolidated and published.

Highlights from the submissions include:

  • A request to increase the funding cap per participant from $50,000 to $100,000, but the AESO considers $50,000 sufficient to ensure more participants can access funding.
  • Requests for funding to address costs already incurred; however, the AESO does not find retroactive funding appropriate, as the REM technical design is ongoing and future engagement opportunities remain.
  • A request for guaranteed funding, advance funding, and a review of the reasonableness of claimed costs, but the AESO does not view it as suitable to assess participation costs. Instead, a $50,000 cap, adherence to established Alberta Utilities Commission Rule 022: Rules on Costs in Utility Rate Proceedings, with a process for partial funding after the engagement on the REM Technical Design is complete, then again after the Rules consultation is complete, to address ongoing needs.

We have reviewed the feedback, appreciate the inputs provided, and encourage any interested market participants (or associations of market participants) to apply for funding. The funding process will proceed as initially proposed. The application form is now available.

The period for market participants or other associations to apply for funding is May 15 to May 26, 2025.

Purpose

The AESO will provide limited funding market participants, or associations of market participants (to a maximum of $50,000 per market participant) to enable their ongoing participation in the AESO’s stakeholder engagements on the market design and ISO rules for the restructured energy market (the REM Engagements).

We understand that some market participants may not have sufficient funds to support their ongoing participation in the REM Engagements. The resulting market design and ISO rules will not initially be subject to an Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) proceeding and approval process, through which similar funding would otherwise be available.

Background

Consistent with direction from the Government of Alberta, the AESO began to solicit stakeholder feedback on a design for the REM in March of 2024, with a goal of creating a robust market design to ensure that Alberta’s electricity framework remains affordable, reliable, investable and sustainable for generations to come.

In December 2024, the Government of Alberta announced that it would bring forward the necessary policy tools to allow the initial set of ISO rules required for the REM to be enacted via legislation. Under this approach, the REM design and rules would be initially approved by Government and will not initially be subject to consideration or approval by the AUC.

To date, the AESO has completed several rounds of in-person and virtual information sessions, design sprints, design finalization sessions, and written feedback to progress and finalize the REM design. At each stage of the engagement, participation from a broad range of stakeholders from across the province and industry has been critical. The AESO understands that participation in the REM Engagements has been time and resource-intensive, and that certain stakeholders may be unable to continue their involvement in the REM Engagements for financial reasons.

The AESO will encourage ongoing stakeholder participation in the REM Engagements by supporting eligible market participants with this funding.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Application for Funding | May 15 - 26, 2025

    Purpose

    Under the AESO Funding for Participation in REM Engagements process, we will provide funding to those market participants, or an association of market participants, demonstrating they:

    • require financial support to meaningfully participate in the AESO’s ongoing REM design engagement process and the AESO’s upcoming REM ISO rules engagement process (collectively, the “REM Engagements”); and
    • represent a unique and valuable perspective that would otherwise not be part of the AESO’s REM engagements.


    Stakeholders may apply by providing information about the above factors and a budget of estimated costs, up to a cap of $50,000 and based on Appendix A to Rule 022: Rules on Costs in Utility Rate Proceedings of the Alberta Utilities Commission.

    The AESO will review applications and provide a confirmation of eligibility for funding. Upon completion of the REM market design engagement, market participants who have received confirmation of eligibility for funding will submit a summary of their actual costs with accompanying documentation, and the AESO will disburse funds to reimburse the actual costs incurred. Upon completion of the REM ISO rules engagement, stakeholders with confirmed eligibility for funding may submit an additional summary of their actual costs with accompanying documentation, and the AESO will disburse funds to reimburse any additional costs incurred for participation in the REM ISO rules engagement.

    Materials

    The eligibility form can be found in the AESO Materials section.

    Instructions

    1. To submit your application, you must be registered and signed in on the AESO Engage platform.
    2. Please submit one completed application per organization.
    3. All responses will be shared on AESO Engage.
    4. Requests for funding must be received by May 26, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. MT.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Request for Feedback | April 30 - May 8, 2025

    Purpose

    We are gauging interest from market participants on the proposed AESO Funding for REM Engagement Participation process, which will allow them to apply to the AESO for funding required for the REM design and ISO rules engagements.

    The AESO will post all feedback received in its original format.

    Materials

    View AESO Process - Funding for Participation in REM Engagements prior to providing feedback.

    Instructions

    1. To submit your responses, you must be registered and signed in on the AESO Engage platform.
    2. Please click on the "Submit Stakeholder Feedback" box below to begin the survey and provide your specific comments.
    3. Please submit one completed survey per organization.
    4. All responses will be shared on AESO Engage.
    5. Responses are due by 4:00 p.m. MT on May 8, 2025.

    Stakeholder Questions:

    1. Are you a market participant or association of market participants that requires funding to engage in the remainder of the REM Engagements? If yes, please explain why.
    2. Do you have any comments on the proposed funding process?
Page last updated: 03 Jun 2025, 09:28 AM