Connection Process Streamlining
Attention Market Participants
The Government of Alberta has decided to implement a pause on AUC approval of new renewable electricity generation projects over 1 MW. During this pause, in effect from Aug. 3, 2023 to Feb. 29, 2024, the AESO will continue to progress System Access Service Requests (SASRs) on behalf of Market Participants following the established AESO Connection Process, including transitioning to the new cluster study assessments starting Sept. 1, 2023, as communicated to industry.
For more information, please see the Government of Alberta News Release: Creating certainty for renewable projects.
Key Dates
Dec. 4, 2023 | Cluster Assessment Process Stakeholder Survey
Purpose
The AESO is streamlining the Connection Process to better manage the growing volume of generation projects within a progressively complex AIES system. These factors have resulted in a significant increase in SASR project delivery timelines. The AESO’s streamlined Connection Process is intended to provide greater efficiency and schedule certainty, reduce red tape, minimize rework, and align project execution with available resource capacity. Stakeholder perspectives are essential to the AESO to support and enhance our decision-making process. Through careful consideration and evaluation of feedback, the AESO seeks to balance diverse stakeholder interests and our mandate to operate in the public interest in developing sound decisions.
We value and thank stakeholders for the expertise and insights they have brought forward throughout this engagement.
Out-of-scope
The following topics are out-of-scope and will not be discussed as part of the Connection Process Streamlining information session:
- Changes to the regulatory framework (e.g., TReg, TPL standards)
- 2018 GTA Decision and Corresponding Compliance Filing Items
- Existing System and Connection projects
Attention Market Participants
The Government of Alberta has decided to implement a pause on AUC approval of new renewable electricity generation projects over 1 MW. During this pause, in effect from Aug. 3, 2023 to Feb. 29, 2024, the AESO will continue to progress System Access Service Requests (SASRs) on behalf of Market Participants following the established AESO Connection Process, including transitioning to the new cluster study assessments starting Sept. 1, 2023, as communicated to industry.
For more information, please see the Government of Alberta News Release: Creating certainty for renewable projects.
Key Dates
Dec. 4, 2023 | Cluster Assessment Process Stakeholder Survey
Purpose
The AESO is streamlining the Connection Process to better manage the growing volume of generation projects within a progressively complex AIES system. These factors have resulted in a significant increase in SASR project delivery timelines. The AESO’s streamlined Connection Process is intended to provide greater efficiency and schedule certainty, reduce red tape, minimize rework, and align project execution with available resource capacity. Stakeholder perspectives are essential to the AESO to support and enhance our decision-making process. Through careful consideration and evaluation of feedback, the AESO seeks to balance diverse stakeholder interests and our mandate to operate in the public interest in developing sound decisions.
We value and thank stakeholders for the expertise and insights they have brought forward throughout this engagement.
Out-of-scope
The following topics are out-of-scope and will not be discussed as part of the Connection Process Streamlining information session:
- Changes to the regulatory framework (e.g., TReg, TPL standards)
- 2018 GTA Decision and Corresponding Compliance Filing Items
- Existing System and Connection projects
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Cluster Assessment Process Survey
Purpose
Stakeholders’ engagement, dialogue, and feedback over the last 1.5 years has been and will continue to be key to continuing the Connections Process Streamlining activities. The AESO would like to thank stakeholders in advance for their ideas, thoughts, and perspectives.
We value your input and would like to ask all interested stakeholders to provide their feedback on the Cluster 1 activities completed to date via the Cluster Assessment Process Survey.
The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and will remain open until December 18, 2023. Results of the survey will be kept confidential.
Please be aware that each question below is followed by a request to provide supporting details for your response.
The AESO will provide an update on what we heard from stakeholders in Q1, 2024.
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Session 6 - Information Session | October 4, 2023
CLOSED: This session has concluded.The AESO hosted a virtual Information Session on October 4, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Purpose
The purpose of this session was to provide stakeholders with an update and more information on:
- The volume and number of projects in Cluster 1 and the AESO’s approach for managing the significant interest for that cluster;
- An update on the volume of projects meeting the AESO’s transition deadline to stay in the previous process; and
- Providing insights on congestion estimates on transmission network pre Cluster 1.
We also discussed the next steps for Cluster 1, and the AESO held a facilitated Q&A to respond to stakeholder questions.
Materials
Are available under AESO Materials on the right-hand side of this page.
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Session 5 - Information Session | July 20, 2023
CLOSED: This session has concluded.The AESO hosted a virtual Information Session on July 20, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Purpose
The purpose of this session is to update stakeholders on the implementation of the Cluster Assessment Process. As we continue to accept System Access Service Requests (SASRs) and approach the initiation of the first cluster assessment on September 1st, 2023, the AESO will share an update of the transition plan and focus on Stage 1 implementation.
We will also discuss the next steps, and the AESO will hold a facilitated Q&A to respond to stakeholder questions.
Materials
Are available under AESO Materials on the right-hand side of this page.
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Session 4 - Implementation Update | March 28, 2023
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.Purpose
The purpose of this virtual session was to update stakeholders on the next steps related to the Connection Process streamlining engagement work that occurred over the last year. The AESO shared an overview of the transition plan, Stage 0, 1 and 2 and next steps for implementation. The AESO held a facilitated Q&A to respond to stakeholder questions.
Materials
Can be found in the AESO Materials section on the right-hand side of the page.
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Session 3 - Design Session | Oct. 18, 2022
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.Purpose
Building on the last two sessions, the purpose of this engagement was to share the AESO's streamlining design for the updated Connection Process with stakeholders. Following the presentation there were facilitated breakout discussions on key design components. Breakout topics were shared via the agenda prior to the session. A Q&A was available following the introductory presentation to respond to stakeholder questions. This was an in-person engagement session and participation was limited to attendees. Stakeholders were encouraged to review the materials from Session 1 - Kickoff and Session 2 - World Café in preparation for this engagement session.
Stakeholder Feedback
The AESO requested stakeholders share their feedback on the Connection Process Streamlining design through a Survey that ran from December 2022 to January 2023. The Survey summary can be found in the AESO Materials section on the right-hand side of the page.
Design Session materials
Can be found in the AESO Materials section on the right-hand side of the page.
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Session 2 - World Café | June 28, 2022
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.Purpose
The purpose of this session was to engage with stakeholders and gather feedback on potential streamlining areas for the AESO’s Connection Process. The AESO held an in-person World Café style session, where topics were previously shared via the agenda on the AESO Engage website. A facilitated Q&A was available following the introductory presentation to respond to stakeholder questions.
World Café session materials
Can be found in the AESO Materials section on the right-hand side of the page.
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Session 1 - Kickoff | May 19, 2022
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.Purpose
This session is intended to provide stakeholders with background on the changing nature of the projects being managed in the Connection Process, the resulting challenges that have arisen, and an understanding of implications to the current portfolio of projects. A review of the overall plan for the Connection Process Streamlining initiative will be shared, and stakeholders will be informed of how they can prepare for the next session in the engagement.
At this session, stakeholders were updated on the current state of the AESO’s Connection Process, and the Connection Process Streamlining initiative was kicked off. The AESO shared plans to engage with stakeholders on the Connection Process, with the objective of improving efficiency and reducing red tape. A facilitated Q&A was available to respond to stakeholder questions.
Specific session objectives included:
- Update on the changing landscape of the projects being managed in the Connection Process
- Review current state challenges and impacts
- Share plans for the Connection Process Streamlining initiative
- Prepare stakeholders for the next engagement session
Kickoff materials
Can be found in the AESO Materials section on the right-hand side of the page.
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Level of Engagement
Consult: Gather input and feedback from stakeholders
Refer to the AESO’s Engagement Framework for our approach to engagement
Key Dates
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August 31 2023
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September 01 2023
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October 04 2023
Important Links
Lifecycle
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2022 Lifecycle (Archive)
Connection Process Streamlining has finished this stage- Kickoff | May 19, 2022: Session 1 | Virtual session focused on background and review of plan for the Connection Process Streamlining Initiative.
- World Café | June 28, 2022: Session 2 | Hybrid session focused on gathering feedback on areas to streamline.
- Streamlining Design | Oct. 18, 2022: Session 3 | Hybrid session focused on sharing the streamlining design for the updated Connection Process
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Implementation Update | March 28, 2023
Connection Process Streamlining has finished this stageSession 4 | Virtual session with a focus on transition plan and Stage 0.
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Review & Analysis | April-June 2023
Connection Process Streamlining has finished this stageReview templates and develop timelines for Stage 1.
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AESO Stakeholder Symposium | June 27, 2023
Connection Process Streamlining has finished this stageThere was a Connection Process Streamlining high-level update as part of the inaugural AESO Stakeholder Symposium.
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Information Session 5 | July 20, 2023
Connection Process Streamlining has finished this stageUpdate stakeholders on the transition plan and focus on Stage 1 implementation.
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Cluster 1 Deadline | SASR Processing
Connection Process Streamlining has finished this stageThe AESO is working on processing all SASRs that it has received by the Aug. 31, 2023 Cluster 1 intake deadline.
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Information Session 6 | October 4, 2023
Connection Process Streamlining has finished this stageCluster 1 update and Q&A
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Stakeholder Survey | Dec. 4 - 18, 2023
Connection Process Streamlining is currently at this stageCluster Assessment process lessons learned stakeholder survey
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Additional Stakeholder Engagement Sessions | As Needed
this is an upcoming stage for Connection Process StreamliningDates to be determined and advertised here.
AESO Materials
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AESO Connection Process Announcement [Posted: Aug. 14, 2023] (231 KB) (pdf)
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Session 6 - Information Session | Oct. 4, 2023
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Session 5 - Information Session | July 20, 2023
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Session 4 - Implementation | March 28, 2023
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Stakeholder Survey Summary 2023
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2022 Stakeholder Engagement Summary
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Session 3 - Design Session | October 18, 2022
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Session 2 - World Café | June 28, 2022
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Session 1 - Kickoff | May 19, 2022
Contact Us
If you have any other questions, please contact stakeholder.relations@aeso.ca