The purpose of the 2025 Budget Development Process (BDP) is to consult with industry on the AESO’s areas of focus and proposed budget and forecasts for the upcoming year as per the Transmission Regulation. The 2025 BDP will be used to establish the AESO’s business plan and budget for 2025 as well as the forecast for 2026 and 2027.
We thank stakeholders for sharing their valuable perspectives in the 2024 BDP and for continuing to participate as we shape the consultation process to fit the need and current environment and to elevate the value proposition. We are grateful for stakeholders' alignment and support in relation to the strategic areas of focus as identified by the AESO. For additional details, view the Letter to Stakeholders.
Enhancements
The AESO has dedicated efforts to enhance its BDP process for the last two years and has made significant changes. Our commitment to more efficient stakeholder engagement remains, and especially in 2023, stakeholders had unparalleled interaction with AESO across various levels. We have taken into consideration stakeholder feedback as well as completed an internal review, and to continue gaining efficiencies, we are making the following improvements to the BDP consultation:
Initiating a new three-year General and Administrative and Capital budget forecast cycle starting with the 2025 budget
Stakeholders have asked for this longer time horizon to have an understanding of our outlook and to ensure our budget is reasonable. This outlook extension will help stakeholders better plan and prioritize their activities.
Streamlining the consultation process to fit the need and current environment, and to elevate the value proposition
This includes giving stakeholders more time to digest the Budget and Forecast information shared to allow for more meaningful participation in the consultation. We are providing stakeholders with a video introducing the preliminary budget as well as a presentation and forum to post questions a month in advance of the stakeholder session. We will also be providing a continuously updated resource of frequently asked questions to elevate discussions to strategic topics and avoid repetition. This document will be updated as pertinent themes emerge and it can be viewed under FAQ on the right-hand side of the page.
Understanding that stakeholders have had ample opportunity to review the Budget information, we will host a hybrid Q&A stakeholder session focused on discussion, answering clarifying questions and fostering relationships.
Removing the November 1:1 stakeholder meetings. Results of an internal review illustrated this step in the consultation process was not providing further budget consultation or clarification value.
The purpose of the 2025 Budget Development Process (BDP) is to consult with industry on the AESO’s areas of focus and proposed budget and forecasts for the upcoming year as per the Transmission Regulation. The 2025 BDP will be used to establish the AESO’s business plan and budget for 2025 as well as the forecast for 2026 and 2027.
We thank stakeholders for sharing their valuable perspectives in the 2024 BDP and for continuing to participate as we shape the consultation process to fit the need and current environment and to elevate the value proposition. We are grateful for stakeholders' alignment and support in relation to the strategic areas of focus as identified by the AESO. For additional details, view the Letter to Stakeholders.
Enhancements
The AESO has dedicated efforts to enhance its BDP process for the last two years and has made significant changes. Our commitment to more efficient stakeholder engagement remains, and especially in 2023, stakeholders had unparalleled interaction with AESO across various levels. We have taken into consideration stakeholder feedback as well as completed an internal review, and to continue gaining efficiencies, we are making the following improvements to the BDP consultation:
Initiating a new three-year General and Administrative and Capital budget forecast cycle starting with the 2025 budget
Stakeholders have asked for this longer time horizon to have an understanding of our outlook and to ensure our budget is reasonable. This outlook extension will help stakeholders better plan and prioritize their activities.
Streamlining the consultation process to fit the need and current environment, and to elevate the value proposition
This includes giving stakeholders more time to digest the Budget and Forecast information shared to allow for more meaningful participation in the consultation. We are providing stakeholders with a video introducing the preliminary budget as well as a presentation and forum to post questions a month in advance of the stakeholder session. We will also be providing a continuously updated resource of frequently asked questions to elevate discussions to strategic topics and avoid repetition. This document will be updated as pertinent themes emerge and it can be viewed under FAQ on the right-hand side of the page.
Understanding that stakeholders have had ample opportunity to review the Budget information, we will host a hybrid Q&A stakeholder session focused on discussion, answering clarifying questions and fostering relationships.
Removing the November 1:1 stakeholder meetings. Results of an internal review illustrated this step in the consultation process was not providing further budget consultation or clarification value.
The purpose of the first set of consultations was to engage senior executive stakeholders in one-on-one discussions with a subset of AESO Board and Executive members to share their insights on what they believe the AESO should be focusing on in the year to come. These discussions took take place in advance of the budget development cycle and have a more strategic focus. They are foundational to the AESO as we consider stakeholders’ insights and expertise to determine the focus areas and associated priorities for the new three-year budget forecast cycle.
Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta (IPPSA)
Industrial Power Consumers Association of Alberta (IPCAA)
Kineticor Energy
Kiwetinohk Energy
TransAlta Corporation
Materials
Can be found under AESO Materials
Page last updated: 22 Nov 2024, 12:03 PM
Videos
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Nov. 5, 2024 Stakeholder Q&A Session
Watch the AESO's updated preliminary Budget figures and answers to stakeholder questions.
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2025 BDP Intro Video
Watch the AESO's VP of Finance, Nicole Kinch, give an overview of the major pieces of the 2025 Preliminary Budget.
Level of Engagement
Consult: Gather input and feedback from stakeholders
2025 Budget Development Process has finished this stage
Engage senior executives in 1:1 discussions with the Board and Executive members to share their insights on what the AESO should be focusing on in the new three-year budget forecast. A summary of themes heard will be shared with stakeholders following these meetings.
FAQ | July 2024 - onward
2025 Budget Development Process has finished this stage
The AESO has developed a living resource to answer stakeholders' most frequently asked questions.
Analysis & Draft Budget Preparation | July - November 2024
2025 Budget Development Process has finished this stage
Review and consider insights as the AESO develops focus areas and associated priorities and prepares draft Own Costs budget and Transmission Operating forecasts for 2025.
2025 Budget Development Process has finished this stage
Provide stakeholders with an introductory video and presentation they can review at their own discretion and a forum for them to submit their questions to the AESO in advance of the stakeholder Q&A session.
Stakeholder Q&A Session | Nov. 5, 2024
2025 Budget Development Process has finished this stage
The AESO will answer questions received through its open Question Board, as well as any new questions stakeholders may have.
Analysis & Draft Business Plan & Budget Proposal | October - November 2024
2025 Budget Development Process is currently at this stage
Review and consider stakeholder questions as the AESO prepares its 2025 Business Plan & Budget Proposal. An updated FAQ will be posted.
Board Decision | December 2024 - January 2025
this is an upcoming stage for 2025 Budget Development Process
Board reviews 2025 Business Plan & Budget Proposal and takes into consideration the engagement activities to make its decision.