Our government is committed in putting Albertans first, ensuring their needs and priorities are at the heart of every decision we make.
In this spirit, we are modernizing Alberta’s electricity system to restore the balance needed for Albertans to enjoy a reliable, affordable, and sustainable power grid. These changes not only address current challenges but also lay a foundation for a stronger future for our province.
This modernization will significantly enhance the reliability by introducing measures that will make our electricity system more efficient and dependable. Albertans deserve to know that their power will be available when they need it most, regardless of weather or demand fluctuations. The improvements we are implementing will ensure that our grid can meet the evolving needs of our growing province, making power outages and instability a thing of the past.
Our government remains firmly committed to Alberta’s unique competitive electricity market structure. This system provides consumers with choice while positioning Alberta as a premier destination for investors. By maintaining this market-based approach, we’re ensuring Alberta continues to attract the kind of investment that drives innovation and economic growth, creating jobs and opportunities for Albertans.
We are also taking steps to protect ratepayers from the financial burdens caused by previous mismanagement. Under the NDP, an accelerated coal phaseout was rushed through, forcing Albertans to shoulder massive costs. This careless approach undermined stability and placed unnecessary pressure on families and businesses. Our government is making necessary changes to ease this burden, ensuring Alberta’s ratepayers are no longer left to pay the full price of the NDP’s shortcomings.
To bring Alberta in line with other provinces, we are empowering the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) with more market-based tools to enhance the efficiency of our grid. This includes prioritizing the use of existing infrastructure to reduce costs and streamline operations. By leveraging what we already have, we’re making smarter, more sustainable choices for the future of Alberta’s electricity system.
We are also streamlining the process to build and maintain grid connections with other jurisdictions. This red-tape reduction will expedite critical improvements, such as restoring electricity grid connections between Alberta and British Columbia and expanding connections with Saskatchewan. Strengthening these ties ensures that Albertans can access the power they need when they need it while encouraging regional cooperation and resilience.
As part of this modernization, Alberta’s system will transition to a day-ahead market. This means power generators will need to commit their supply a day in advance, providing greater certainty about the availability of power. By prioritizing reliability, we’re ensuring that Albertans’ needs are met with minimal risk of shortages or interruptions.
Alberta’s power grid spans roughly 20,000 kilometres of transmission lines and incorporates over 400 generating units. Historically, the costs of building transmission lines were predominantly shouldered by consumers, spread out over 50 to 60 years. With our government’s updates, we are introducing a more equitable and balanced cost-sharing approach.
Albertans deserve an electricity system that reflects their values of reliability, affordability, and sustainability. Through these bold and necessary changes, we are building a brighter, more secure future for everyone in our province.
- MLA Jackie Lovely can be contacted at her constituency office located at #104, 4870 51 Street, Camrose AB, T4V 1S1, or by telephone at 780-672-0000.
