ACT environment

Proceeding 27256 Register

Application status: completed

Decision report issued: June 30, 2022

Overview

The AUC has recently concluded an inquiry on matters relating to hydrogen in natural gas distribution systems.

On November 5, 2021, the government of Alberta announced the Hydrogen Roadmap identifying the province as being well-positioned to participate in the evolving global hydrogen economy. The Hydrogen Roadmap recognized that the adoption of clean hydrogen has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with the province enabling hydrogen blending into natural gas distribution systems as a method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

On March 23, 2022, the government of Alberta issued an Order in Council directing the AUC to inquire into and report to the Minister of Energy on matters relating to hydrogen blending into natural gas distribution systems. On June 30, 2022, the AUC provided its report to the Minister of Energy which will be released publicly in the coming weeks.

The scope of the inquiry included the AUC gathering information, and making findings or providing observations or considering options on:

  • The role of regulated natural gas distribution systems and unregulated competitive markets for hydrogen blending into natural gas distribution systems up to 20 per cent blending by volume.
  • The impacts of blended hydrogen into low-pressure natural gas distribution systems, including:
    • Impacts on the delivery of services to municipal and rural natural gas consumers.
    • Competitive retail impacts.
    • Potential rate impacts.
    • Impacts on utility cost recovery for hydrogen blending, with reference to Section 37 of the Gas Utilities Act and any other relevant legislation, including the Public Utilities Act.
  • The safe and reliable delivery of blended hydrogen through natural gas distribution systems, including potential harmonization with municipal or other relevant safety standards.
  • Addressing regulatory ambiguity, removing unnecessary regulatory barriers, and improving certainty as required to enable hydrogen blending into natural gas distribution systems.
  • Areas for future study relating to hydrogen blending into natural gas distribution systems.

Participation

The AUC allowed parties the opportunity to reply to other parties’ submissions under the following schedule:

Process step Date (by 4 p.m.)
Statement of intent to participate and written comments April 19, 2022
Written reply comments April 26, 2022
Deadline for AUC to submit its report to the Minister of Energy June 30, 2022

To review comments and submissions in this proceeding, please visit our website and log in to the eFiling System, go to Proceeding 27256, and register to participate under the “registered parties” tab. Alternatively, please contact us at 310-4AUC (310-4282) in Alberta or info@auc.ab.ca for more information or assistance with filing your comments.

​The eFiling System​

The eFiling System should be accessed to view the applications and the other documents the AUC will be considering in this proceeding. The system is also used to file submissions and evidence to participate in the proceeding.

To create an account, select “New account” and follow the steps to create a user ID and password. If you have any questions about how to use the system please contact us at info@auc.ab.ca or 310-4AUC.

Documents considered in this proceeding can be found in the eFiling​ System (which requires log in). Once you have logged in, enter 27256 in the “go to” section at the top left corner of your screen.

Hydrogen Inquiry