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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.