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ABEnergy
@abenergy.bsky.social
Discussing and sharing the latest news and information on energy in Alberta.
In the News
#yeg #yyc

Alberta Government announces move to enact day ahead power market, transmission system cost sharing for generators, and focus on improved provincial interties.

Source: www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?...
Rewiring Alberta’s electricity market
Alberta’s government is making changes to the province’s electricity market rules to restore the balance between affordability, reliability and sustainability.
www.alberta.ca
December 11, 2024 at 4:27 PM
In the News

Alberta places bizarre restrictions on solar and wind energy development, but not on oil, gas, mining, or forestry. Appears as dogmatic attack on green energy. Will hurt consumers by increasing need for more expensive generation sources.

Source: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta releases new rules and no-go zones on wind and solar projects | CBC News
The regulations say wind projects will no longer be permitted within specified "buffer zones" that encompass much of the Rocky Mountain areas.
www.cbc.ca
December 10, 2024 at 5:36 PM
In the News
#yeg #yyc

Kevin O’Leary is planning to build a massive data centre outside Grande Prairie. At a planned 7.5GW, it would use nearly as much power as Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Source: edmonton.ctvnews.ca/largest-ai-d...
Largest AI data centre in the world to be built in northwest Alberta
The world's largest Artificial Intelligence data centre will be built in northwest Alberta and comes with an estimated $70 billion price tag.
edmonton.ctvnews.ca
December 10, 2024 at 5:23 PM
In the News

Alberta Utilities Minister Neudorf provided a letter to the editor of RD News discussing support for Rural Electrification Associations (REAs).

REA customers still cannot select their retailer and will soon be saddled with high ROLR rates, which will hurt utility affordability.
Rural Electrification Associations strengthen Alberta’s rural utilities
"Anyone who has experienced winter in Alberta knows just how important it is to have reliable power and heat e...
rdnewsnow.com
December 6, 2024 at 9:29 PM
Just a Thought…
#yeg #yyc

Alberta is continuing its push for data centres and hopes to see growth in the next 5 years. Given the AESO expects a generation shortfall in 5-7 years, data centres could be a real problem. High energy prices and poor reliability coming in 2030?
Varcoe: Alberta rolls out plan to attract data centres, eyes $100B investment over five years
On Wednesday, Nate Glubish released the province’s new data strategy, designed to pull in such big-ticket investments to the province.
calgaryherald.com
December 4, 2024 at 8:51 PM
In the News
#yeg #yyc

The Rate of Last Resort (ROLR) details have hit the mainstream news. CBC has a good article on the ROLR and why you don't want to be on it.

Source: www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7399025
Alberta's electricity 'rate of last resort' is coming Jan. 1 as response to volatile prices
Joel Dryden - CBC News
www.cbc.ca
December 4, 2024 at 8:37 PM
Just a Thought…
#yeg #yyc

The new ROLR default electricity rate and the Premier’s plan for postage stamps distribution rates will see #Edmonton and #Calgary utility costs increasing. Coupled with the cost increases coming to auto insurance, it seems ‘affordability’ is a marketing exercise.
November 30, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Electricity 101

In Alberta, the AUC regulates the utility system. Despite overseeing a complex engineering system, no engineers hold leadership roles at the AUC. While some commission members are engineers, most leaders are lawyers.

Source: www.auc.ab.ca/biographies/
Biographies
www.auc.ab.ca
November 29, 2024 at 3:39 PM
In the News

A new 200MW solar farm outside McNeill Alberta is on track for construction in 2025.

Nice to see a renewables project moving forward after the UCP renewables pause.

Source: medicinehatnews.com/news/local-n...
Solar play with 200MW potential secures development permit from Cypress County - Medicine Hat News
@MedicineHatNews DUNMORE Cypress County has issued a development permit for a major solar field planned for the far northeast of the county. The Estuary Solar project would be built by applicant IndyG...
medicinehatnews.com
November 28, 2024 at 11:31 PM
In the News

The Orphan Well Association seizes control over more wells after another oil company teeters on failure.

OWA expects the company to reimburse them, but the costs will likely fall to taxpayers.

Source: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta company ordered to abandon wells following months of regulatory failures | CBC News
An Alberta company has lost the right to manage its own well sites after the provincial regulator ruled the operations pose a safety risk and must be abandoned by the operator.
www.cbc.ca
November 27, 2024 at 10:47 PM
In the News

Concerns are rising about the high number of O&G executives on the AESO board, sparking conflict of interest worries. It's notable that no experienced electrical utility leaders are present on the board.

Source: thenarwhal.ca/alberta-rene...
Past TC Energy VPs backed Alberta renewables pause | The Narwhal
Experts question the role of former TC Energy insiders at AESO who backed the Alberta renewables pause of Danielle Smith's government
thenarwhal.ca
November 26, 2024 at 10:44 PM
In the News

Crowsnest Pass votes to allow coal mining to return to the area. Other communities downstream question whether the vote results are sufficient to justify reopening the mine. The Municipality where the mine is located opposes it.

Source: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca
November 26, 2024 at 10:27 PM
In the News

Residents are opposing the Fox Meadows wind project in Central Alberta, which includes 25 turbines with a capacity of 165MW.

If their concerns halt this project, could similar concerns also stop oil and gas developments in Alberta?

Source: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Proposed central Alberta wind project met with opposition from residents, conservation group | CBC News
A proposed wind project, over 265 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, is facing opposition from some nearby residents.
www.cbc.ca
November 26, 2024 at 8:31 PM
Coal 101

In 2023, Alberta had 9 active coal mines producing 11.07Mt. Thermal bituminous and subbituminous coal (used for power generation) made up 7.4Mt (67%) and 2.93Mt (26%). Metallurgical coal (used for steel) accounted for 0.71Mt (6%).

Source: www.aer.ca/providing-in...
Coal Production
In 2023, total production of marketable coal decreased by 15% from 2022.
www.aer.ca
November 26, 2024 at 2:44 AM
Fun Fact

Shovelling snow for 30 minutes burns about 0.25kWh of energy (216 Calories).

I have already burned 0.5kWh, but expect to burn around 2kWh before the end of the day.

Be safe and stay warm today!

Source: www.livestrong.com/article/3011...
So, Just How Many Calories Can You Actually Burn Shoveling Snow? | Livestrong.com
Shoveling snow burns lots of calories — between 180 and 300 in 30 minutes. It's an intense cardio workout that works your legs, core, back, shoulders and arms.
www.livestrong.com
November 23, 2024 at 4:06 PM
In the News
#yeg

Edmontonians have a chance right now to influence how much they pay for franchise fees on their electric bills. See the link below for details on how to have your say.

What are “Franchise Fees”? See our recent Electricity 101 post from today.

www.epcor.com/ca/en/news/n...
Electric Franchise Agreement and Fee Application for AUC Approval | EPCOR Canada
www.epcor.com
November 22, 2024 at 6:07 PM
Electricity 101

“Franchise Fees” or “Local Access Fees” are an amount the local municipality charges the distribution company to operate in the municipality. These costs that are passed along to you. How much do you pay for these fees?

Your Mayor and Council can influence these fees.
November 22, 2024 at 6:03 PM
In the News

The Competition Bureau found that TransAlta’s purchase of Heartlands Alberta generators would “likely [] result in a substantial lessening of competition in the wholesale electricity market in Alberta…”.

The Bureau is requiring TransAlta to sell three generators as part of the deal.
November 22, 2024 at 4:01 PM
In the News

The Alberta government announces a $4.6B surplus from higher income taxes and oil/gas revenue. However, the future outlook is uncertain due to projected falling oil prices.

The Alberta resource revenue rollercoaster is going strong!

Source: www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?...
Under pressure
Alberta maintains a balanced budget while ensuring pressures from population growth are being addressed.
www.alberta.ca
November 21, 2024 at 10:18 PM
Worth a read if you live in Alberta and use electricity. So all Albertans should read this post by Blake Shaffer.
Since many (ok, two) of you have asked, here’s a LONG thread on “everything you ever wanted to know (but were afraid to ask) on Alberta retail electricity rates. #absky #energysky
a man in a suit and tie is saying let 's go .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is saying let 's go .
media.tenor.com
November 21, 2024 at 9:13 PM
Just a thought…

Hydrogen (H2) costs vary widely depending on how it is produced, but it costs much more than using Natural Gas.

For a home using 120GJ/year, the Natural Gas cost may be $250/year, but heating with H2 may cost between $700 and $5,000 per year.

See comments for more
November 21, 2024 at 7:48 PM
In the News

ATCO and Qualico open a hydrogen heated home in Sherwood Park on Sunland Way. Is there a future for hydrogen home heating, or is it a pipe dream?

We will post more on hydrogen in the future.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
A hydrogen-heated home in Alberta lays ground for future low-carbon communities | CBC News
On the outside, the new house just east of Edmonton looks like any other Canadian suburban home. But inside, the home's state-of-the-art furnace is fuelled not by the Alberta norm of natural gas, but by pure hydrogen — making it the first of its kind in Canada.
www.cbc.ca
November 21, 2024 at 6:29 PM
Just a thought…

Rural customers pay more for electrical distribution, but ATCO customers pay significantly more than others.

Below are the annual distribution costs for a residential customer using 7,200kWh per year:

ATCO = $1,211
Fortis = $591
ENMAX = $389
EPCOR = $388
November 21, 2024 at 5:26 PM
In the News…

Olds Counsellor requests town issue a letter to Province claiming rural utility customers unfairly pay higher distribution costs.

See our upcoming post on the distribution tariff costs for the four big Alberta distribution companies.

www.thealbertan.com/olds-news/ol...
Olds council wants government action on 'unfair' electrical charges
Coun. Darren Wilson filed a notice of motion on the matter, saying that rural residents and businesses pay an "unfair" share of electrical distribution costs, compared to urban markets
www.thealbertan.com
November 21, 2024 at 5:20 PM
Reposted by ABEnergy
Noteworthy change to Alberta's supply and demand page - no more coal listed.

Here are the current installed capacities across generation types in Alberta, in MW:
November 20, 2024 at 10:20 PM