Government Releases Rules And Regulations For New Alberta Energy Regulator

On October 24, 2012, the Government of Alberta introduced the Responsible Energy Development Act, ("REDA"). On June 5, 2013, the Provincial Government announced that REDA would come into force on June 17, 2013, with the exception of Part 3 (Enforcement of Private Surface Agreements) and certain other sections.

As we reported earlier, the REDA creates a single regulator that will assume the regulatory functions of the Energy Resources Conservation Board, which will be dissolved. The new entity, the Alberta Energy Regulator ("AER"), will also take on the regulatory functions of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development in relation to energy projects.

The Government has taken a phased approach to the implementation and rollout of the AER. Phase I, currently underway, involves the launch of the AER and its governance model. Phase II, expected in Fall 2013, will see the AER take over responsibility and operations of Alberta Environment and