IPPSA Intelligence

REM Announced

The AESO announced Alberta’s Restructured Energy Market which modernizes the province’s power grid by introducing features such as locational marginal pricing, scarcity pricing, a real-time ramping product, and an enhanced reliability unit commitment process.

These tools aim to bolster reliability by enabling faster supply adjustments, improved congestion management, and higher price caps to signal scarcity. Affordability is addressed through competition-friendly rules, cost-sharing for reliability services, and market-power mitigation measures including a secondary offer cap and a scarcity pricing curve.

Investment attraction is driven by clear locational and temporal price signals, an elevated energy offer cap rising to $2,000/MWh by 2032, a negative price floor, and more frequent settlement intervals. Transitional supports, such as temporary financial transmission rights, protect existing generators during an eight-year phase-out.

Extensive stakeholder engagement shaped final design choices, and next steps involve ISO rule consultations beginning in fall 2025, regulatory filings by year-end, and phased implementation starting mid-2027. Parallel updates to the transmission planning framework will shift toward optimal congestion management.

References:

1. Alberta Takes Major Step Toward New Future Ready Electricity Market
2. What is the restructured energy market
3. What's next

AESO Stakeholder Update

Alberta’s electricity landscape is undergoing significant regulatory and operational transformation as the AESO transitions its Restructured Energy Market from high-level design to ISO rules engagement. Stakeholders can submit expense claims by Oct. 1 and join a Sept. 4 virtual kick-off.

The newly released 2025 Reliability Requirements Roadmap outlines infrastructure investments, procurement initiatives and enhanced forecasting, with an info session on Sept. 16. Draft technical interconnection standards for transmission-connected data centres introduce stricter requirements for large IT loads, and feedback is due Sept. 19. An addendum to the Fast Frequency Response Plus rationale document updates product and procurement options, inviting comments and expressions of interest by Sept. 22.

Multiple engagement sessions on congestion management, tariff redesign and ancillary service cost allocation are scheduled throughout September, supported by an updated 2025 engagement plan.

These developments reflect a focus on market efficiency, grid reliability and stakeholder collaboration, ensuring technical clarity and cost transparency for generators, large consumers and service providers. The move to detailed ISO REM rules and clarified reliability standards promises to reshape contracting, cost allocation and operational practices. Active participants should review materials, attend sessions and meet deadlines to influence emerging rules and secure participation funding.

References:

1. AESO Engage

Alberta Grid Strains

Much of Alberta is bracing for a week-long heat wave with temperatures hovering near or above 30 °C, triggering health, wildfire and energy concerns. The AESO reported a new summer peak in electricity demand driven by widespread air conditioning use, urging consumers to reduce usage between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to alleviate grid stress and maintain reliability.

Lower humidity and a lack of rainfall have elevated wildfire danger from moderate to extreme across the region, prompting Alberta Wildfire officials to warn that dry conditions following a wet July heighten the risk of rapid fire spread. As such events become more frequent, reinforcing grid resilience and community preparedness will be vital to safeguarding health, preventing fires and ensuring stable energy supply and system stability.

References:

1. Prolonged heat event forecast for Alberta

Alberta launches public consultations and expert panel to explore a nuclear energy roadmap

Alberta has launched a formal public engagement and expert advisory process to evaluate nuclear power’s role in meeting rising electricity demand. The government frames nuclear as a safe, reliable, emissions‑free option that could bolster grid reliability and affordability, create jobs, and power energy‑intensive industries. An expert panel chaired by Parliamentary Secretary Chantelle de Jonge (with members Deron Bilous, Tim Boston, Stephen Buffalo, Rudiger Tscherning and Harrie Vredenburg) will lead consultations and deliver recommendations toward a potential nuclear roadmap.

Initial engagement tools include an online public survey open until Sept. 25 and an industry/Indigenous/municipal request for information open until Oct. 25, with in‑person sessions and further outreach planned through 2026; the government says it is proactively engaging Indigenous communities. 

References:

1. Nuclear in the mix for Alberta's energy future

Alberta Data Centre Requirements

Alberta has unveiled a new levy framework targeting grid‑connected AI data centres of 75 MW or larger, implementing a 2 percent levy on computer hardware effective December 31, 2026. The policy, shaped through industry consultation, is designed to balance fairness with competitiveness—revenues from the levy will be fully offset against provincial corporate income taxes once the data centre becomes profitable, ensuring no additional tax burden.

The framework also recognizes data centres as designated industrial properties for consistency in municipal property assessments, with optional property tax incentives or deferrals available for up to 15 years. It builds upon Alberta’s AI Data Centre Strategy launched in December 2024.

References:

1. Alberta introduces new levy framework for AI data centres

Saskatchewan earmarks $900‑million to refurbish coal plants

Saskatchewan will spend $900 million over four years to refurbish three coal-fired plants (Shand, Poplar River, Boundary Dam), extending about 1,608 MW of capacity beyond the federal 2030 coal phase-out deadline. The government frames the move as prioritizing energy security and reliability, arguing that relying on imported natural gas exposes the province to supply and price risk, while local coal reserves offer roughly a century of fuel availability.

SaskPower says refurbishments are roughly half the capital cost of equivalent new gas plants, citing recent 370‑MW gas projects that cost $825 million to $1.7 billion. Officials rejected coal‑to‑gas conversions as expensive and still dependent on imported gas. Saskatchewan maintains a 2050 net‑zero grid target and plans to “bridge” with coal toward future nuclear options (SMRs or a large plant) while seeking federal support for a domestic nuclear sector. 

References:

1. Saskatchewan budgets $900-million to refurbish coal plants, says no gas conversions

BCUC Approves 10 Renewable Power Agreements 

British Columbia has approved ten long-term clean electricity purchase agreements from BC Hydro’s 2024 procurement, adding roughly 4,830 GWh/year of mostly wind generation (nine wind projects, one solar) under 30-year contracts priced on average at $74/MWh, with deliveries expected to begin in fiscal 2031.

Economically, the agreements lock in multi-decade price exposure that will influence future rate-setting and planning, while providing significant clean capacity to support decarbonization targets. Technologically the selection favors mature onshore wind with some solar, reflecting cost competitiveness of those sources. Project proponents will still need financing, permitting and community buy-in to meet schedules, and future reviews may revisit cost assumptions too.

References:

1. Ten purchase agreements accepted by B.C. Utilities Commission

Alberta commits $10M to pilot projects including waste‑to‑energy expansion

Alberta is investing $10 million through the industry funded TIER program, delivered by Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), to pilot two clean technology projects in Cardston and Peace River that aim to cut costs, lower emissions and modernize municipal services. Cardston will host the province’s first standalone Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) pilot to treat sewage using bacteria; ERA projects about 50% lower electricity use.

Peace River’s project expands a waste to energy facility to divert roughly 85% of landfill waste, reduce disposal costs by about 25%, enable round the clock operations, create jobs and recover heat and electricity; promoters claim the approach could avoid more than 22 million tonnes of methane emissions. Combined public and partner investment approaches nearly $41 million.

References:

1. Clean water, less waste and more savings

Saskatchewan halts industrial carbon-levy charges on electricity, causing budget deficit

Saskatchewan’s decision to stop collecting the federal industrial carbon levy on electricity bills has driven a sudden fiscal shift: a $172-million revenue drop, mainly at SaskPower, helped flip a planned $12-million surplus into a projected $349‑million deficit. The finance update shows $20.9 billion in revenue against $21.2 billion in expenses for the year.

The province paused passing industrial charges to large emitters; consumer carbon levies were already removed federally, but Ottawa still applies industrial charges. The output‑based performance program remains on provincial books for accounting purposes but is not currently collecting cash; officials said forecasting will be revised once a final program decision is made.

References:

1. Saskatchewan budget takes big hit, from $12M surplus to $349M deficit

Mark Carney's European push to expand Canada's nuclear and critical‑minerals ties

Mark Carney's European mission seeks to deepen defense and industrial ties with Poland, Germany and Latvia while accelerating Canada’s role in nuclear power and critical minerals that underpin energy expansion. Meetings with leaders in Warsaw, Berlin and Riga aim to formalize cooperation on nuclear technology exports, supply chains for battery and renewable components, and security partnerships that link energy resilience to geopolitical strategy.

The push highlights a strategic pivot toward Europe for investment and trade, leveraging Canada’s resource base to supply uranium, rare earths, lithium and associated processing capacity. Success could expand industrial capacity, create specialized jobs, and attract capital for mining, refining and advanced manufacturing, though outcomes depend on regulatory alignment, financing and public acceptance of nuclear projects.

References:

1. Carney Pushes Energy, Defense Deals in Europe in Pivot From US

Nova Scotia Power’s Data Breach

A hacker infiltrated Nova Scotia Power’s (NSP) systems on March 19, 2025, compromising sensitive data belonging to approximately 280,000 customers—more than half of the utility’s base—including names, addresses, emails, account and billing histories, and for some, Social Insurance Numbers (SINs) and bank account details. NSP only disclosed the breach publicly on April 25 and initially offered two years of credit monitoring, later extended to five years for all current and former customers. Regulators and the federal privacy commissioner have demanded full transparency, triggering investigations, public hearings, and a mandatory year‑end report. The company has yet to explain why it retained SINs long after federal directives to cease doing so.

References:

1. Nova Scotia Power Data Breach

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IPPSA's mission is to convene industry, providing information, resources, and a forum for knowledge sharing, and to create opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, and education. This newsletter is meant to inform members but not advocate for specific outcomes. We always appreciate your feedback at info@ippsa.com.