Tariff Connection Obligations

Important Dates & Materials

July 7 | Stakeholder Update (below)

June 16 - 18 | Working Group 2 Presentation

May 6 - 8 | Working Group 1

July 7 | Stakeholder Update

Thank you to all working group participants for your time, expertise, and active engagement during the sessions in May and June. The discussions and feedback provided have been invaluable in helping to identify areas of alignment, clarify key challenges and trade-offs, and inform the development of options the AESO will continue to explore as we prepare to recommend adjustments to this part of the tariff, while also considering links to other ISO Tariff Redesign workstreams.

We look forward to providing stakeholders with another update in October, when we plan to host a stakeholder session to present the options being advanced and provide an opportunity to provide written feedback afterwards. The engagement schedule has been updated below for reference.

March 18 | Stakeholder Update

We will be hosting a half-day hybrid kick-off session on Friday, April 10 for this workstream. Please review the Overview and Primer before the kick-off. You can express interest to participate in the Working Group below. The working group sessions are scheduled for May 6-8 and June 16-18 (separate registration details to follow).

Purpose

The AESO is reviewing the responsibilities of both market participants and the AESO when connecting to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES), including how costs are allocated at the time of connection. This engagement will also address:

  • How connection alternatives are selected and their impact on costs;
  • Substation fraction review;
  • Billing and contracting for multiple connection points;
  • Post-energization obligations, including potential stranded costs; and
  • Financial obligations of the market participant, transmission facility owners (TFOs) and ISO for connection projects.

These tariff provisions are primarily found in Section 4 of the ISO tariff, Classification and Allocation of Connection Project Costs, Section 5, Changes to System Access Service, and Section 6, Financial Obligations for Connection Projects, of the ISO tariff.

Scope

  • Summarize the history of connection costs allocation and ISO investment policy in Alberta
  • Explain the current ISO tariff and policy, including technical details
  • Identify what is working and not working from AESO perspective
  • Gather stakeholder feedback on what is working and not working
  • Develop objectives for a revised policy

Out of Scope

These topics will be addressed in other workstreams:

  • Ancillary Services
  • Other priority tariff work; and
  • Optimized Transmission Planning (OTP)

Note: OTP will influence understanding of drivers for new or upgraded transmission facilities and related price signals to stakeholders.

Engagement Schedule (Updated July 7, 2026)


Important Dates & Materials

July 7 | Stakeholder Update (below)

June 16 - 18 | Working Group 2 Presentation

May 6 - 8 | Working Group 1

July 7 | Stakeholder Update

Thank you to all working group participants for your time, expertise, and active engagement during the sessions in May and June. The discussions and feedback provided have been invaluable in helping to identify areas of alignment, clarify key challenges and trade-offs, and inform the development of options the AESO will continue to explore as we prepare to recommend adjustments to this part of the tariff, while also considering links to other ISO Tariff Redesign workstreams.

We look forward to providing stakeholders with another update in October, when we plan to host a stakeholder session to present the options being advanced and provide an opportunity to provide written feedback afterwards. The engagement schedule has been updated below for reference.

March 18 | Stakeholder Update

We will be hosting a half-day hybrid kick-off session on Friday, April 10 for this workstream. Please review the Overview and Primer before the kick-off. You can express interest to participate in the Working Group below. The working group sessions are scheduled for May 6-8 and June 16-18 (separate registration details to follow).

Purpose

The AESO is reviewing the responsibilities of both market participants and the AESO when connecting to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES), including how costs are allocated at the time of connection. This engagement will also address:

  • How connection alternatives are selected and their impact on costs;
  • Substation fraction review;
  • Billing and contracting for multiple connection points;
  • Post-energization obligations, including potential stranded costs; and
  • Financial obligations of the market participant, transmission facility owners (TFOs) and ISO for connection projects.

These tariff provisions are primarily found in Section 4 of the ISO tariff, Classification and Allocation of Connection Project Costs, Section 5, Changes to System Access Service, and Section 6, Financial Obligations for Connection Projects, of the ISO tariff.

Scope

  • Summarize the history of connection costs allocation and ISO investment policy in Alberta
  • Explain the current ISO tariff and policy, including technical details
  • Identify what is working and not working from AESO perspective
  • Gather stakeholder feedback on what is working and not working
  • Develop objectives for a revised policy

Out of Scope

These topics will be addressed in other workstreams:

  • Ancillary Services
  • Other priority tariff work; and
  • Optimized Transmission Planning (OTP)

Note: OTP will influence understanding of drivers for new or upgraded transmission facilities and related price signals to stakeholders.

Engagement Schedule (Updated July 7, 2026)


  • The window to express interest has closed. Those confirmed to participate will receive more information by email.

    TCO Working Group: Expression of Interest (March 18 to April 17, 2026)

    Purpose

    To gauge interest and select industry representatives to participate in the Tariff Connection Obligations Working Group. 

    Respond to this survey by April 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. MT. Please be as specific as possible with your responses. 

    Instructions

    1. This survey 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" box below to respond to the survey.

    Questions

    1. Which industry segment would you represent in this working group?
    2. Do you agree with the intent and outcome of the Working Group (focus on background, regulatory parameters to assess examples to create a shared understanding, followed by collective evaluation)
    3. Please explain your response to Question 2. 
    4. Please confirm your availability to participate in the working group meetings.

    If you have any questions about the survey, email stakeholderrelations@aeso.ca.

  • CLOSED: This feedback opportunity has concluded.

    Stakeholder Feedback: Tariff Connection Obligations (Round 1) | Apr. 10 - 24, 2026

    We value stakeholder input and invite stakeholders to provide their feedback on the materials presented on Tariff Connection Obligations via the following stakeholder feedback form by April 24, at 4:00 p.m. MT. Please be as specific as possible with your responses. Thank you for your input.

    Purpose

    Following our kick-off session on April 10, we are inviting written comments from stakeholders that will inform the next steps and our upcoming TCO Working Group discussions in May.

    Instructions

    1. This feedback form is open to all industry stakeholders.
    2. Please fill out the sections below as indicated.
    3. Only one completed feedback form will be accepted per organization.
    4. To upload your completed feedback form:
    5. You will need to be registered and signed in on the AESO Engage platform;
    6. You will need to be on Tariff Connection Obligations | AESO Engage page, which can be found on the AESO website at www.aeso.ca and follow the path: AESO Engage (found on very top navigation bar) > ISO Tariff > Tariff Connection Obligations; and
    7. Click on the "Submit Feedback" box to upload your completed feedback form.

    All responses are due by April 24, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. MT. and will be shared on AESO Engage in their original format. If you have any questions, please email stakeholder.relations@aeso.ca 

    Questions

    1. Do you agree with our approach to review and adjust the methodologies and processes for cost collection and related terms and conditions for customer connections as part of the ISO Tariff Redesign (Reference Slide 10)? If not, why not? Please explain.
    2. Do you agree that adjusting the connection cost methodologies and clarifying the terms and conditions will support load growth, contribute to lower transmission rates and deliver overall economic benefit (Reference Slide 9)? If not, why not? Please explain. 
    3. Please share examples of a connection challenge your organization has encountered within general tariff connection obligations that can be used as case studies in the working group.
    4. Indicate which of the contribution policy topics below are the top five (5) priorities for your organization? (choose ONLY 5)
    5. Do you have any other general comments or feedback to share?

Page last updated: 07 Jul 2026, 01:01 PM