Alberta

Review and Variance Application of ATCO Gas PBR3 Base Revenue

In Proceeding 28244, The City of Calgary (Calgary) submits to the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) a review and variance application of Decision 26616-D01-2023 which establishes the 2023 revenue requirement of ATCO Gas Distribution (ATCO). Calgary argues that ATCO’s 2022 14 percent return on equity triggers a re-calculation of ATCO’s rate base going into the third term of performance-based regulation (PBR3) which had excluded data from years 2021 and 2022.[1]



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2022 ISO Tariff Modernization Application Decision

In Proceeding 27864, the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) issues its decision regarding the 2022 ISO Tariff Modernization Application applied for by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO). Intervenors opposed the AESO’s revisions to System Access Service Requests (SASRs) and Generating Unit Owner’s Contribution (GUOC) policies. The Commission accepts the AESO’s application as filed with only one change required to its GUOC proposal that allows an adjustment to the associated energization date under certain circumstances.[1]



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AltaLink’s 2024-2025 General Tariff Application

In Proceeding 28174, AltaLink Management Ltd. (AltaLink) submits to the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) its 2024-2025 general tariff application along with the applications of KainaiLink, L.P. (KainaiLink) and PiikaniLink, L.P. (PiikaniLink) for review. Overall, AltaLink seeks to maintain its transmission tariffs at its 2018 levels and to correct accounting errors discovered since its previous application.[1]



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Decision on EPCOR’s 2023 System Access Service Rates Update

In Proceeding 28133, the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) issues its decision on the 2023 System Access Service (SAS) Rate Update application of EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. (EPCOR). EPCOR had filed an application with the Commission requesting approval to update its 2023 SAS rates effective July 1, 2023. The Commission already approved EPCOR’s 2023 SAS rates in December 2022. However, a week after issuing its decision, the Commission approved the 2023 Independent System Operator (ISO) tariff of the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), which included changes to the AESO’s demand transmission service (DTS) rate components. Therefore, EPCOR requested approval to align its SAS rates in accordance with the AESO’s DTS rate components. No additional interveners participated in this proceeding.[1]



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ATCO Electric’s 2023-2025 General Tariff Application Decision

In Proceeding 27062, the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) decides on the 2023-2025 General Tariff Application of ATCO Electric Ltd. (ATCO). The Commission allowed ATCO and interveners to enter a negotiated settlement process on all matters except for the Vegetation Management reserve removal and modifications to ATCO’s Variable Pay Program reserve. Parties were also unable to agree on the treatment of the $7.5 million undepreciated balance for ATCO’s Jasper Palisades isolated generation plant. Therefore, the Commission dealt with these three issues separately from the negotiated settlement.[1]



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ENMAX Energy’s 2023-2024 Energy Price Setting Plan Decision

ENMAX Energy Corporation (ENMAX Energy) provides regulated rate option (RRO) services in ENMAX Power Corporation’s service territory. The Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) approves the RRO tariff through an energy price setting plan (EPSP) which sets the monthly RRO rate parameters. In Proceeding 27495, the Commission issues its decision regarding ENMAX Energy’s 2023-2024 EPSP. Key issues in this proceeding include ENMAX Energy’s proposals to amend its Letter of Credit (LOC) rates and how it calculates its Natural Gas Exchange (NGX) Collateral Costs, as well as the recommendations of the Utilities Consumers Advocate (UCA) to exclude the net commodity risk compensation (CRC) from ENMAX Energy’s energy return margin calculations and to limit ENMAX Energy’s monthly monitoring costs.[1]



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Information Requests in the Residential Standards and Maximum Investment Levels (MILs) Proceeding

In Proceeding 27658, intervenors submit their information requests that address several topics in the standards of service and maximum investment levels (MILs) for residential services proceeding. These information requests fall in line with one or several topics included in the February 2023 issues list. Parties addressed information requests to the following intervenors: the distribution facility owners (DFOs) (ATCO Electric Ltd., ENMAX Power Corporation, EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc., FortisAlberta Inc.), the Developers (Anthem Properties, BILD Alberta, Melcor Developments Ltd.), the Municipalities (Alberta Municipalities, City of Airdrie), the Alberta Federation of Rural Electrification Associations (AFREA), and the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA).



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ATCO’s 2018-2023 Transmission Deferral Accounts Decision

In Proceeding 26573, the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) issued its decision regarding the 2018-2023 Transmission Deferral Accounts disposal of ATCO Electric Ltd. (ATCO). Central to this proceeding was ATCO’s Jasper Interconnection Project (the Jasper Project), in which it was found that ATCO sole-sourced one of its contracts at above-market rates. In making its decision to disallow over $7.6 million in cost recovery, the Commission considered the way ATCO prepared for and managed the Jasper Project and ATCO’s treatment of cancelled customer project costs. The Commission also directs a reduction associated with the sole-sourced contract, but the exact amount depends on ATCO calculating the value of the contract in its compliance filing.



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ATCO v Commission Court of Appeal Decision

In the Court of Appeal of Alberta, ATCO Electric Ltd. (ATCO) v Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission), 2023 ABCA 129 Memorandum of Judgment, ATCO sought the appeal of a Commission decision that denied ATCO the recovery of losses associated with the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. The Commission’s initial decision relied on ATCO Gas & Pipelines Ltd v Alberta (Energy & Utilities Board), 2006 SCC 4 (the Stores Block decision), from which the Commission understood that ‘extraordinary retirements’ of assets are attributable to shareholders rather than customer accounts. After considering the circumstances, the Court of Appeal issued a decision allowing ATCO’s appeal to stand.



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TransAlta 2022-2023 GTA Arguments

In proceeding 27964, TransAlta Corporation (TransAlta) and the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) submit their arguments before the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) in support and opposition to certain parts of TransAlta’s 2022-2023 general tariff application. TransAlta requested a $9.0 million revenue requirement for 2022 and $9.4 million for 2023, along with a one-time payment from the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) of $846,000 to reconcile approved interim rates. The three main issues on which the arguments focus are non-union salary escalation rates, TransAlta’s operations and maintenance (O&M) agreement with AltaLink Management Ltd. (AltaLink), and TransAlta’s First Nations Advisory Committee costs.



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