Phase 2A: Large Load Integration | BYOG Process

Important Dates & Materials

June 24 | Stakeholder Session registration

April 21 | Stakeholder Update (below)

March 25 | Stakeholder Update and materials posted:

Feb. 17 | Stakeholder update and materials posted:

April 21 | Stakeholder Update

The working group was provided with a draft of the front end of the process, including details on load applicability, generator qualification, application submission requirements, tethering agreements, and related terms and conditions. This draft reflected the working group’s discussions to date and was used as the basis for additional meetings held April 13–14 to further refine the approach. The AESO is now incorporating those updates into a revised process draft, which will be published shortly.

For transparency, the draft process shared with the working group is included with this update to provide visibility into the current direction of the work. This draft DOES NOT represent final outcomes and will continue to evolve as discussions progress. While the front end of the process includes significant detail, the AESO is still assessing the most efficient study paths to enable ready-to-proceed BYOG large loads to advance quickly, without creating unnecessary timeline impacts for non-BYOG projects. Additional detail on study paths will be developed and shared in the coming weeks.

The posted draft process also includes comments where a future data centre regulation may affect certain process elements. In fall 2025, the Government of Alberta passed Bill 8, which enables the Minister to make regulations related to data centres. Given the interaction between the BYOG process and this potential regulation, the AESO will release a final process proposal once the regulation is published and the process has been updated accordingly.

Following release of the updated process proposal, the AESO will hold an industry-wide stakeholder session, with opportunities for questions and written feedback. The process will be finalized and implemented after stakeholder input has been considered. The AESO expects this engagement to occur in the second half of Q2 2026.

Purpose

The AESO rolled out Phase I of the Large Load Integration Program on June 4, 2025. Phase I included a 1,200 MW interim large load connection limit and a process for allocating that load among qualified project developers.

Phase II of the Large Load Integration Program is exploring the changes necessary to create the long-term framework for large loads (including data centres) across the AESO’s mandate, including connections, planning, operations, markets, tariff and reliability.

We continue to evolve the design of Phase II engagement, which requires careful planning and coordination. To help shape its scope and direction, we sought stakeholder input on:

  • key questions and related topics to address; and
  • structure and timing, considering the interdependencies with other engagements.

Important Dates & Materials

June 24 | Stakeholder Session registration

April 21 | Stakeholder Update (below)

March 25 | Stakeholder Update and materials posted:

Feb. 17 | Stakeholder update and materials posted:

April 21 | Stakeholder Update

The working group was provided with a draft of the front end of the process, including details on load applicability, generator qualification, application submission requirements, tethering agreements, and related terms and conditions. This draft reflected the working group’s discussions to date and was used as the basis for additional meetings held April 13–14 to further refine the approach. The AESO is now incorporating those updates into a revised process draft, which will be published shortly.

For transparency, the draft process shared with the working group is included with this update to provide visibility into the current direction of the work. This draft DOES NOT represent final outcomes and will continue to evolve as discussions progress. While the front end of the process includes significant detail, the AESO is still assessing the most efficient study paths to enable ready-to-proceed BYOG large loads to advance quickly, without creating unnecessary timeline impacts for non-BYOG projects. Additional detail on study paths will be developed and shared in the coming weeks.

The posted draft process also includes comments where a future data centre regulation may affect certain process elements. In fall 2025, the Government of Alberta passed Bill 8, which enables the Minister to make regulations related to data centres. Given the interaction between the BYOG process and this potential regulation, the AESO will release a final process proposal once the regulation is published and the process has been updated accordingly.

Following release of the updated process proposal, the AESO will hold an industry-wide stakeholder session, with opportunities for questions and written feedback. The process will be finalized and implemented after stakeholder input has been considered. The AESO expects this engagement to occur in the second half of Q2 2026.

Purpose

The AESO rolled out Phase I of the Large Load Integration Program on June 4, 2025. Phase I included a 1,200 MW interim large load connection limit and a process for allocating that load among qualified project developers.

Phase II of the Large Load Integration Program is exploring the changes necessary to create the long-term framework for large loads (including data centres) across the AESO’s mandate, including connections, planning, operations, markets, tariff and reliability.

We continue to evolve the design of Phase II engagement, which requires careful planning and coordination. To help shape its scope and direction, we sought stakeholder input on:

  • key questions and related topics to address; and
  • structure and timing, considering the interdependencies with other engagements.
  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Phase II Pre-Engagement Survey | Sept. 26 - Oct.15, 2025

    We value stakeholder input and invite you to provide feedback on the design of our engagement for Phase II of Large Load Integration. Respond to this survey by October 15, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. MT. Please be as specific as possible with your responses. Thank you for your input.

    Instructions

    1. This feedback form is open to all industry stakeholders.
    2. Please respond to the questions as indicated.
    3. Only one completed feedback form will be accepted per organization.
    4. To submit your responses:
    • You will need to be registered and signed in on the AESO Engage platform; and
    • Click on the "Submit Stakeholder Feedback" box below to respond to the survey.


    All responses are due by October 15, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. MT. and will be shared on AESO Engage in their original format. If you have any questions about the survey, email stakeholderrelations@aeso.ca.

    Questions

    1. Do you agree with the AESO’s stated objectives for Phase II (enable as much load as possible within reliability guardrails, develop clear and efficient pathways to connection, explore opportunities for innovative grid partnerships)?
    2. Should there be different or additional objectives for Phase II?
    3. Do you agree with the key questions and related topics for Phase II laid out in the latest Data Centre Update?
    4. Rank the following topics from the latest Data Centre Update in order of priority. (1=top)
    5. Explain why you ranked the topics in that order.
    6. Are there other questions, topics or issues that should be considered?
    7. What interdependencies with other AESO or policy initiatives could challenge Phase II?
    8. Rank the following engagement formats according to which will provide the most efficient and meaningful participation for this engagement. (1=best)
    9. Are there any other comments you would like to share in advance of the Phase II engagement?
Page last updated: 02 Jun 2026, 01:04 PM