Over the past week, the Alberta government has released several
new regulations under the Responsible Energy Development
Act (REDA) and has proclaimed that the majority of the
REDA's provisions will come into force on June 17, 2013. As of
that date, the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) will be
replaced by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and all proceedings
before the ERCB will continue under the REDA. Although many of the
processes and requirements under the REDA and the AER Rules of
Practice will be similar to those currently followed by the ERCB,
there are several changes that participants will need to
familiarize themselves with. For example, the AER will have greater
discretion to process applications without holding a hearing, even
if a party can show that it may be directly and adversely affected
by the project in question. Conversely, if the AER decides to hold
a hearing, it has the power to grant intervener status to parties
that will not be
