Transmission Must-Run service
Transmission Must-Run (TMR) is generation that is required to be online and operating at specific levels in parts of the province's electricity system to compensate for insufficient local transmission infrastructure relative to local demand. TMR is used to ensure reliability until adequate transmission infrastructure is built in that local area.
Given the location-specific nature of TMR, only specific units in Alberta may be required to provide TMR. The AESO may enter into a contract with these units when long-term requirements for TMR are identified.
TMR procurement competition
Ancillary services, such as TMR, keep the transmission system running reliably and securely. These services are procured by the AESO in a fair, open, efficient, and competitive manner to the extent that a procurement is contestable between market participants.
Following the identification of a foreseeable need for TMR service in the AESO’s Grande Prairie planning area, a procurement competition to enter into a commercial agreement for TMR service was conducted in two stages, based on the procedure set out in Appendix B of the ISO Tariff:
- Stage 1: Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI)
- Stage 2: Request for Proposals (RFP) or bilateral negotiation
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REOI stage<br>March 7 – March 21, 2022
The REOI staged opened on March 7 and closed on March 21, 2022.
A virtual REOI stakeholder information session was hosted on March 14, 2022.
The REOI stage sought to identify market participants interested in competing for a commercial agreement(s) to provide TMR service in the AESO’s Grande Prairie planning area. Participation in the REOI stage was strongly encouraged for market participants who wished to participate in stage 2 of the procurement competition. REOI documents are included in the section “TMR service procurement competition resources.”
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RFP stage<br>April 4 – May 17, 2022
The AESO, following consultation with the Market Surveillance Administrator (MSA) after the REOI stage was complete, determined that the REOI was contestable; therefore, an RFP was issued and managed through a procurement site called Bonfire (Bonfire Site).
The RFP stage of the competition opened on April 4, 2022, and closed on May 17, 2022. Following the evaluation of proposals, a successful bidder(s) will be selected in late Q2 2022.
TMR service procurement competition resources
- TMR Procurement Bonfire Site Frequently Asked Questions [Posted: March 31, 2022]
- TMR Procurement Bonfire Site Access Instructions [Posted: March 31, 2022]
- TMR Procurement Bonfire Site Access and Participation Agreement [Posted: March 31, 2022]
- TMR Procurement Questions & Answers [Updated: March 29, 2022]
- Presentation | TMR Procurement Information Session [Posted: March 15, 2022]
- Webinar Audio | TMR Procurement Information Session [Posted: March 14, 2022]
- TMR Request for Expressions of Interest Document [Posted: March 7, 2022]
- TMR Service Expression of Interest Form [Posted: March 7, 2022]
- TMR Procurement Competition Backgrounder [Posted: March 2, 2022]
Please direct any comments or questions about the TMR procurement competition to TMR@aeso.ca
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TMR Resources
In order to compensate for the effect that TMR generators may have on pool price, we use a service called Dispatch Down Service (DDS) whereby eligible generators receive a payment for reducing generation levels or dispatching off in proportion to the amount of TMR online when the system marginal price is less than a TMR “reference price." ISO rules Section 204 provides a detailed description of DDS.
- ISO rule 204.1 – Offers for the Dispatch Down Services
- ISO rule 204.2 – Issuing Dispatches for Dispatch Down Services
- ISO rule 204.3 – Dispatch Down Service Restatements
Compensation for unforeseeable TMR
When the AESO directs a market participant to provide TMR and a market participant does not have a contract with the AESO to provide the service, then the amount paid as compensation is determined in accordance with section 8 of the AESO tariff.
In order to receive compensation, the following documents must be submitted to the AESO (aspayables@aeso.ca) on a timely basis:
(1) Customer invoice
a. Indicating the date of the Unforeseen TMR event
b. Submitted by the legal entity owning the generation that provided the service
(2) Calculation spreadsheet (Excel format)
a. Deemed values will be used unless necessary supporting material is provided to justify use of actual values
