Every hour of every day, power generators offer to sell their electricity to Alberta’s grid. In Alberta’s unique energy-only market, power generators are only paid for the power they generate. The lowest priced electricity is bought and dispatched first. To ensure generators are able to recoup their cost of production, generators may offer their power at prices above their marginal cost, a practice called economic withholding.
Economic withholding was designed as a legitimate tool to encourage new investment in the province’s power market. The slightly higher prices that economic withholding causes in the short-term attracts new competitors to Alberta, leading to lower prices in the long-term.
That all changed when the accelerated phaseout of baseload coal, and emphasis on intermittent renewables, altered Alberta’s supply mix. The negative impacts of economic withholding would normally be offset by having adequate competition in the market. However, the accelerated coal phaseout significantly increased the impact of economic withholding on ratepayers, beyond the original intent of the policy.
While Alberta’s government undertakes the important work of restoring balance in Alberta’s electricity market, it is enacting temporary rules to limit the practice of economic withholding, lowering power prices.
“Albertans need to have affordable and reliable power. That’s why our government is taking action to prevent price spikes on their utility bills, while ensuring the grid has a reliable supply of generation. These new regulations are just the start of how our government is working to modernize Alberta’s electricity system.”
The current market rules around economic withholding were designed two decades ago, when coal was the primary source of power generation. The rules did not account for what Alberta’s power supply mix would look like today. Alberta’s accelerated coal phaseout significantly reduced the amount of reliable baseload power, decreasing the amount of competition in Alberta’s market. This led to Albertans seeing prices spike on their power bills, as competition was no longer able to offset the negative impacts of economic withholding.
Based on recommendations from Alberta’s Market Surveillance Administrator (MSA) and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), Alberta’s government is introducing new regulations to ensure Albertans have reliable and affordable power. The Market Power Mitigation Regulation addresses economic withholding while ensuring generators make a reasonable rate of return by limiting the offer price for large generators if their net revenues exceeds a monthly predefined threshold. The Supply Cushion Regulation ensures our grid will remain reliable by requiring natural gas power plants to be online in times of high demand if there is not enough power supply to meet Alberta’s needs.
Alberta’s government is encouraging investment in the electricity market so that the province’s energy sector can continue to create jobs in the long-term, while making sure electricity is affordable for Albertans. These two changes still allow power generators to earn revenue while ensuring Albertans have access to affordable and reliable power as Alberta’s government works to modernize the province’s electricity system.
Quick facts
- New, temporary regulations will come into effect on July 1.
- The Market Power Mitigation Regulation and the Supply Cushion Regulation were established in March 2024 and are set to expire in November 2027.
- The Market Surveillance Administrator is a public agency that protects and promotes the fair, efficient and openly competitive operation of Alberta's electricity and retail natural gas markets.
- The AESO manages and operates the provincial power grid on behalf of the Alberta government.
Related information
- Market Surveillance Administrator
- Alberta Electric System Operator
- Market Power Mitigation Regulation
- Supply Cushion Regulation
Related news
- Affordable and reliable electricity for Albertans (March 11, 2024)
- Electrical grid alert: Statement from Minister Neudorf (January 13, 2024)