Alberta Demand Response

Get paid to reduce energy with Alberta’s AESO Operating Reserves Program

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) relies on Operating Reserves (OR) – a network of resources that help balance electrical supply and demand in real-time – to maintain the security and reliability of Alberta’s electrical grid. Program participants are on standby to deliver capacity by reducing load from the grid within minutes of being notified. In return, they earn payments for being available to stabilize the grid during these critical periods.

Enel, the world leader in demand response, connects large energy consumers to the Operating Reserves program and ensures that they can maximize their payments while keeping operational disruption to a minimum. Meanwhile, AESO can make the grid more efficient and maintain reliability for the province.

Alberta Demand Response territory map

Alberta Operating Reserves overview

Program period	Year-round with day-ahead commitments
Program hours	24x7x365, you choose when your site participates: On-peak (7 AM – 11 PM MT) Off-peak (11 PM – 7 AM MT)
Advanced notification	10 minutes
Event duration	Ranges from 10 – 60 minutes
Dispatch frequency	Typically 5 – 10 per year

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Alberta Operating Reserves program FAQs

Large electricity users that can reduce electricity consumption – either by curtailing load, or switching to properly permitted on-site generation – are eligible to provide Operating Reserves.

Ideal participants have the following characteristics:

24x7 or 24x5 operations
Stable, predictable load profile
On-site generation with centralized control
Capable of reducing at least 300 kW load within 10 minutes, most commonly using Enel control solutions

Earnings depend on several factors including hours enrolled in the program, MW reduced, and energy prices. The more you are available, the more you can earn. Enel will work with you to evaluate earnings potential and optimize your participation based on your operational capabilities.

Reduced Energy Bills: Since Operating Reserves prices are tied to the AESO Pool Price, you can participate in the program to hedge against high retail energy charges.
Protect your Operations: The advanced notice you receive provides a window to prepare and prevent costly damage to your processes and equipment preceding a potential blackout.
Full Control and Customization: You decide when and how many MW to bid into the market. You can opt-in and -out of the market with just one day’s notice. Participate only when it makes sense for your business.

Enel works with you to determine a custom participation plan that best suits your site’s operating schedule and financial objectives. Our goal is to maximize your earnings while making participation as simple and hands-off as possible.

Enel submits daily market offers on your behalf for the following day (weekend and Monday offers are submitted on Friday).
When your offers clear, you earn payments for being available to reduce load, if called upon.
If your capacity is needed, Enel will notify you to reduce your load within 10 minutes.

Operating Reserves dispatches are triggered by short-term imbalances between supply of and demand on the AESO grid. These imbalances are typically caused by a sudden loss of a generating unit, an unexpected increase in demand, or an issue with an interconnection that links Alberta to a neighboring jurisdiction.

Enel shields its customers from owing penalties associated with non-compliance. While failure to meet your commitment may result in lower program payments, you will never be required to make any out-of-pocket payments.

Enel pays for all metering equipment, controls, and connectivity fees associated with enrolling your site in the Operating Reserves program. We leverage our state-of-the-art Network Operations Center (NOC) to meet AESO’s strict telemetry, bidding, and dispatch requirements, thereby eliminating any technical costs to our customers.

Our experts are standing by to speak with you about your organization’s demand response opportunity. Submit your information here to get a conversation started with our team.