(AESO)

By The Canadian Press

Jan. 15, 2024

Alberta grid alert ended, again

Jan 15, 2024 | 11:06 AM

The Alberta Electric System Operator says it ended a grid alert that it issued earlier today after wind and solar generation provided some relief.

But it’s urging Albertans to continue conserving energy between peak hours of 4 to 7 p-m as extreme cold persists across Western Canada.

The operator issues the warnings to reduce the possibility of serious measures to balance the system, including rotating power outages.

After nearly a week of being in a deep freeze, the weather is expected to slowly begin warming up starting today.

Meantime, debate is heating up over Alberta’s energy grid as the Prairies continue to battle with extreme cold.

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Some premiers like Danielle Smith and Scott Moe are taking Ottawa to task over its green-energy plans, claiming on social media that electricity grid alerts in Alberta show renewables can’t be depended on when temperatures plunge.

But a spokesman in Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s office says the federal government has always said “reliability, along with affordability, is one of the driving forces behind how the regulations will be designed.”

The spokesman says it’s why the government is making provisions so that fossil fuel-burning plants can run without carbon capture technologies during peak usage or emergency situations.

“Every Albertan depends on our electricity system,” says Nagwan Al-Guneid, Alberta NDP Energy & Climate Critic for Electricity, Utilities and Renewables. “Yet Albertans have seen skyrocketing utility prices and unpredictable electricity services. This is why I have written today to Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities requesting that he take action immediately towards increasing grid reliability and affordability for Albertans.”

“With peak demand during extreme temperatures, Alberta fired up much needed natural gas and imported electricity from other provinces through interties. Today, renewables provided relief and got out of the alert zone,” says Al-Guneid. “Our system requires all types of energy and technologies in order to function effectively and sustainably.”

“The UCP must proclaim its own storage bill that can enable utilities to own and operate storage facilities,” says Al-Guneid. “We also need a framework that enables more investments in Alberta’s energy storage. The situation over the last few days could have been significantly alleviated had more storage been on the grid.”

Over the years, electricity reliability has decreased while electricity costs have increased with Albertans paying more than double per kWh compared to what they would have paid in 2018.

“The UCP government must take action now to increase grid reliability and relieve Albertans of high electricity prices.”

More information on Grid Alerts and tips for electricity conservation can be found at aeso.ca.

Related: Grid alert ENDED after Albertans urged to limit electricity use Saturday night

Related: Numerous more cold records broken in Alberta on Jan. 13

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