Electricity Statistics

Electricity Supply

An important objective of electricity restructuring has been the development of a competitive generation market. Access for all power producers to Alberta's interconnected transmission grid is integral to the success of electricity generation.

Alberta's restructured electricity industry has encouraged efficiencies and allowed new generation supply to come on-line to keep pace with one of the fastest growing economies in North America.

Over 5,300 megawatts (MW) of new generation have been added to the Alberta power supply since 1998.

Over 9,400 MW of Thermal power, and over 14,000 MW of renewable power, have been proposed by industry for future development.

At present, Alberta has more than 12,700 MW of installed generating capacity.  Peak demand in 2008 (climatic year) was 9,806 – up from 9,701 MW in 2007.

 

Alberta Existing Generation Capacity1

 

Alberta Generating Capacity (MW)

Coal

5972

Gas

4934

Hydro

900

Wind

591

Biomass

308

Waste Heat 

41

Fuel Oil

13

Subtotal

12,759

Interconnections

 

British Columbia

750

Saskatchewan

150

Subtotal

900

Grand Total

13,659

Generation Additions 1998-20092

Proposed Generation3,4

Type

Number of Projetcs

Total Capacity (MW)

Thermal

52

9,414

Renewables

91

14,525

Total

154

28,345

For a complete listing of Proposed Generation projects visit AESO's website at:

1) Long Term Adequacy Metrics - August 2009

2) AESO Generation Interconnection Queue

 

Current Generation Decommissions 1998-20095

 

Developer

Location

Installed Capacity (MW)

Type

Decommissioning Date

ATCO Power

Battle River 1,2 56 Coal

1998

TransAlta

Wabamun 3

140

Coal

2003

TransAlta

Wabamun 1,2

128

Coal

2005

EPCOR

Clover Bar

629

Gas

2005

EPCOR  Rossdale 8,9,10 203 Gas 2009
Total Decommissioned Generation (1998-2008)
   1,156    

Imports / Exports3

 

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Exports volume (MWh)

1,061,083

1,038,074

489,465

973,217

558,759

Exports value ($ million)

$36.30

$37.90

$19.40

$37.10

$25.38

Imports volume (MWh)

1,491,661

1,534,574

1,517,027

1,467,221

2,248,118

Imports value ($ million)

$111.20

$164.50

$193.30

$147.40

$266.00

Operations3,6

 

 

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Peak demand (MW)

9,236

9,580

9,661

9,701

9,806

Average Pool Price ($/MWh)

55

70

81

67

90

Maximum Pool price ($/MWh)

998

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

Minimum Pool price ($/MWh)

0

5

5

0

0

Total energy (GWh)

65,260

65,260

66,267

69,661

69,947

Number of Power Pool participants

244

222

222

209

213

Customer Usage Estimates5,7

 

 

Number of Customers 

Usage (GWh)

 

2007

2008

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Residential

 1,224,178

1,257,346

7,581

7,769

8,254

8,561

8,833

Farm

 79,217

80,048

1,735

1,705

1,769

1,807

1,803

Commercial

 145,210

149,728

11,690

12,081

12,733

13,132

13,526

Industrial

 35,917

36,246

28,531

29,055

29,225

28,427

27,878

Total*

 1,484,522

1,523,368

49,535

50,609

51,980

51,927

52,041

* Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

1. The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) and Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO).

2. Based on ERCB data to 2008, AESO and industry information for 2009.

3. AESO data.

4.  Proposed Generation Includes:  Projects under Active Construction; Projects with Regulatory Approval; Projects that have been announced, applied for AESO Interconnection and/or applied for Regulatory Approval; and Projects that have been deferred.

5. ERCB data.

6. Peak demand is based on the climatic year (October to September).

7. Does not include line losses and electricity generated on-site for on-site use.

This document is updated regularly.

 

 

Last reviewed/revised: 2009-10-15