Alberta Data Centre Power-Connection Due Diligence

1. Freeze the load definition and effective date

Record the requesting entity, site, initial and ultimate load, IT and facility demand, phases, ramp, load factor, power factor, harmonics, ride-through, voltage and frequency response, redundancy, onsite generation and target service date.

If the operator, technology, phasing or load behaviour changes, prior studies and status statements may no longer answer the current request. Maintain version control and obtain qualified engineering advice.

• Entity and site
• MW by phase
• Load behaviour
• Connection voltage
• Generation interaction
• Effective date

2. Name every responsible system party

Identify the DFO, TFO, AESO market participant, generation owner, retailer or supply counterparty, municipality, landowner and consultants. Record who submitted each request and who is entitled to receive or disclose the response.

A landowner may not control the connection application or be able to assign its status. A consultant statement should not be treated as a utility commitment without the underlying authorized record.

3. Classify the connection path correctly

Determine whether the site is distribution-connected, transmission-connected, behind the fence, paired with new generation, or structured through multiple stages. AESO says DFOs help determine whether a project can be supported on the distribution system and when a system-access request is required.

Do not apply transmission-project milestones to a distribution request or assume behind-the-fence language eliminates AESO, AUC, utility, market, permit or operating requirements.

4. Build a power-status evidence ladder

For each phase, record request, intake acceptance, AESO or utility project number, project-list status, study scope, completed gates, allocation if applicable, agreement, financial obligations, approvals, land rights, facility design, procurement, construction, commissioning and energization evidence.

An AESO Connection Project List entry means the project is reported within a defined process; it does not by itself prove available capacity, completed studies, final cost, regulatory approval, transferable rights or a firm in-service date.

5. Review large-load allocation and technical requirements

AESO's large-load work is evolving and its current materials describe a completed interim allocation phase plus ongoing connection requirements. Obtain the project's current status rather than relying on an older market presentation or requested-load total.

AESO's 2026 transmission-connected data-centre guide addresses technical and operational performance. Commercially does not interpret those requirements or determine whether the proposed equipment and controls satisfy them.

6. Reconcile facilities, land rights and cost

Map substations, lines, switchgear, transformers, protection, meters, generation, gas, access, easements, land purchase or lease, third-party facilities and customer construction. Identify ownership, design status, permits, procurement, contributions, security and cancellation exposure.

A line on an aerial image or single-line diagram is not constructed infrastructure. A contribution estimate or budget is not a final project cost, and the party funding facilities may not own or control them after completion.

7. Test dates and dependencies as a schedule range

Trace studies, agreements, approvals, equipment, outages, land, generation, fuel, construction, inspection, commissioning and operator readiness. Use base, delayed and failure cases rather than one launch date.

AESO cautions that specified staged energization dates can be outside dates, not target dates. No public project-list date should be marketed as guaranteed power delivery.

8. Convert gaps into transaction protection

Tie site control, deposits, extensions, price, access, assignment, conditions and closing to defined power evidence and decision rights. Have counsel address ownership of studies, confidentiality, reliance, project transfer, sunk costs and termination.

Commercially can coordinate the real-estate record and qualified site process. It does not validate AESO or utility status, reserve load, transfer a connection position, provide electrical or regulatory opinions, or guarantee generation, cost or energization.