Alberta Utilities Commission Studying How to Enable Community Power Generation

April 16, 2017

The province has directed the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to study ways to enable more small-scale, community-owned generation from greener sources, such as wind or solar. The results will help the province develop policy that would enable Albertans to meet demand for more local electricity with power generated by individuals and communities.

“Albertans have a growing interest in powering their own homes or communities and putting clean electricity back into the grid,” says Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, Minister of Energy. “Exploring ways to enable smaller-scale projects like these is the next logical step in promoting green electricity and helping us meet our target of 30% renewable power by 2030.”

The AUC is an arms-length government agency with extensive expertise and experience in electricity utility regulation and analysis, and intends to meet with utilities, consumer groups, developers and other interested stakeholders to assess the supports and barriers around accommodating more small-scale, community electricity generation in Alberta. It will present a final report to the energy minister by the end of 2017.

Supporting more community generation is one of several Government of Alberta actions to promote more green electricity and energy efficiency. This builds on recent steps forward, including the following initiatives:

• Renewable Electricity Program

• changes to the micro-generation regulation

• Alberta Municipal Solar Program

• On Farm Solar PV Program

• Alberta Indigenous Solar Program

• Residential No-Charge Energy Savings Program

• Residential Retail Products Program

• Residential and Commercial Solar Program

Find out more about the province’s Climate Leadership Plan: www.alberta.ca/climate-leadership-plan.aspx.