Distribution Inquiry Report: Setting The Stage For Distribution Transformation In Alberta (Part 1)

On February 19, 2021, the Alberta Utilities Commission (the "Commission") released its Final Report reflecting the findings from its Distribution System Inquiry (the "Inquiry").¹ Commenced in December 2018, the Inquiry received broad stakeholder participation from approximately 90 parties who provided submissions on: (i) emerging energy resource technologies; (ii) impacts of these emerging technologies on grid reliability, existing business models, rate structures, and the ability to provide appropriate price signals; and (iii) potential areas of innovation for the Alberta.² The Commission's lens of review stemmed from the exogenous forces of decentralization of energy resources, digitalization and decarbonization (the "mega-trends") that will continue to intensify in the years ahead.³