Connecting to the Grid

To initiate a request for new or altered system access service on the transmission system, market participants must submit a System Access Service Request (SASR) for the applicable Assessment type as described below.

Cluster Assessment 

Applicability: Generation and energy storage projects that will inject at least 5 MW of new or additional flow into the Alberta interconnected electric system (AIES) at the facility’s connection to the AIES (i.e., the transmission or distribution system, as applicable.

To initiate a project for the next upcoming Cluster Assessment, market participants must complete and submit a SASR - Cluster Assessment and required attachments as outlined in the SASR Guide - Cluster Assessment. The SASR and attachments must be submitted during the SASR intake window. To be accepted into the next Cluster, a preliminary assessment fee and financial arrangement with the transmission facility owner (TFO) are also required by their associated deadlines. See the Cluster Assessment page for more details.

Independent Assessment

Applicability: Load and reliability projects, and generation and energy storage projects that will inject less than 5 MW of new or additional flow into the AIES.

To initiate a project for an Independent Assessment, market participants must complete and submit a SASR - Independent Assessment and required attachments as outlined in the SASR Guide – Independent Assessment.

Other Considerations

Prior to submitting a SASR, consider the following initial steps:

• Review in detail the applicable SASR form and guide to understand the submission requirements.
• Determine the reason for requesting system access service (e.g., load growth, new generation, etc.) and the capacity to be served by the proposed project, and if the Cluster Assessment Process applies.
• Review the Transmission Capability Map to assist in making an informed decision related to generation capacity and location siting of the proposed project, where applicable.
• Contact the distribution facility owner (DFO) in the region where the proposed project will be located. The DFO will help determine if the proposed project can be supported through a connection to the distribution system. If not, a SASR will need to be submitted. The DFO will help determine who will submit the SASR. A list of DFOs and their contact information can be found in the large distribution-connected generators section on the Joining The Energy Market page.

For the Execution Phase, the project will be categorized into one of the project types below. Each project type follows a designated process. As the project moves forward and new information becomes available, the project type may change at the discretion of the AESO.

Connection Project

A connection project requires new or altered transmission facilities to expand or enhance the capability of the transmission system, which are built by the designated transmission facility owner (TFO) upon receipt of regulatory approvals. The project may require a new or altered system access service (SAS) agreement.

Market Participant Choice (MPC) Project

MPC is a variation of a connection project that meets the criteria outlined in the Transmission Regulation where the TFO and market participant agree that the market participant will build a portion (or all) of the transmission facility in lieu of the TFO, and where ownership of that portion is transferred to the TFO upon completion. See the Market Participant Choice page for more information.

Behind the Fence (BTF) Project

A BTF project involves a market participant altering their existing facilities connected to the transmission system which results in the market participant having to submit data to the AESO pursuant to Section 503.21 of the ISO rules, Reporting Facility Modelling Data. The project may arise from new, altered, or decommissioned market participant facilities. Additions or alterations of transmission facilities that expand or enhance the capability of the transmission system are not required, but the project may require a new or altered SAS agreement.

Contract Project

A contract project alters or terminates an existing SAS agreement. Alterations to transmission facilities or the market participant’s existing facilities connected to the transmission system are not required.

Other Considerations

• A project involving a distributed energy resource (DER) may be any of the project types above, but is typically a BTF project.
• New, altered, or terminated SAS agreements may result in a recalculation of the construction contribution for new or existing facilities. Payment in lieu of notice (PILON) may also apply. See Sections 4 and 5 of the ISO Tariff for more information.

ID #2018-018T Provision of System Access Service and the Connection Process establishes the AESO’s practices for the efficient and effective processing and decision making about system access service requests.

For information about current and historical Connection Projects, see the Connection Project Reporting page.