Authoritative Document Process
Authoritative Documents (“ADs”) is the general name given by the AESO to categories of documents developed and implemented by the AESO under the authority of the Electric Utilities Act and regulations, which contain binding legal requirements for both market participants and the AESO.The categories include the ISO rules, the Alberta reliability standards, the ISO tariff, technical standards, and Operating Policies and Procedures.
The AESO has developed a formal internal process and procedure for the creation, review and approval of all ADs (the “AD Process”). It was instituted in mid-2008 by the AESO to ensure the AESO has a comprehensive and well integrated approach for implementing AD’s in accordance with its legislated mandate.
The AD Process embodies well defined control or “gate approval” points and governance, as well as the use of appropriately skilled resources to manage the process. This ensures that an appropriate level of due diligence is performed before any AD is brought forward for CEO and other senior officer approval. This AD Process is mandatory for all AESO staff seeking implementation of any form of AD.
The AD Process in addition places a large emphasis on the role of key AESO staff to participate at an early stage in the development of any AD policy creation, internal information exchanges and full internal review and integration.
To ensure proper and thorough approval of an integrated approach, the AESO created the AD Policy Committee, consisting of vice presidents who hear staff submissions and make determinations on AD policy matters and external consultation readiness. The determinations of the AD Policy Committee take the form of written internal “Directives” to affirm and guide staff on how to proceed to develop and consult on ADs. Staff are also required to inform the AD Policy Committee of key strategic stakeholder issues and concerns identified through consultation that may impact the development of the AD.
The CEO and other senior executives have fully endorsed and ratified the AD Process, and rely on the procedures and AD Policy Committee decisions to identify at an early stage any material integration risks and challenges. The CEO and those executives are fully briefed on material progress and issues identified as the ADs completed internal and external consultations and procedures, and with that knowledge the CEO ultimately must give final approval before any AD is filed with the Alberta Utilities Commission.