Notice of application Syncrude Canada Ltd. has filed an application for an order permitting the sharing of records not available to the public between Syncrude Canada Ltd. and Suncor Energy (Syncrude) Operating Inc.
Proceeding 26584 Application 26584-A001
The Alberta Utilities Commission, the independent utilities regulator, in accordance with Subsection 3(5)(a) of the Fair, Efficient and Open Competition Regulation, must publish notice of an application filed pursuant to Subsection 3(3) of the Fair, Efficient and Open Competition Regulation.
Background and nature of the application On June 7, 2021, Syncrude Canada Ltd. filed an application with the Commission pursuant to Subsection 3(3) of the Fair, Efficient and Open Competition Regulation. The application is seeking an order regarding the sharing of records not available to the public between Syncrude and Suncor Energy (Syncrude) Operating Inc.
In its application, Syncrude submitted that the information sharing would be with respect to its Syncrude Project, which consists of 10 oil sands leases and two major production facilities located north of Fort McMurray in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The Syncrude Project, currently operated and administered by Syncrude, is a joint venture among four owners: Imperial Oil Resources Limited, CNOOC Oil Sands Canada, Sinopec Oil Sands Partnership, and Suncor Energy Inc. (collectively the owners).
Disposition 25054-D01-2020 previously determined that the operational information shared between Syncrude and the owners was not subject to the Fair, Efficient and Open Competition Regulation. However, a new Joint Venture Operating Agreement, effective as of September 30, 2021, will designate Suncor as the new operator of the Syncrude Project. Suncor will appoint Suncor Energy Marketing Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Suncor, to act as its expert agent in managing certain services for the Syncrude Project, including the use, sale and settlement of power in the Alberta power pool. This will necessitate that Syncrude and Suncor share information that is not available to the public.
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Relief requested Pursuant to Subsection 3(3) of the Fair, Efficient and Open Competition Regulation, Syncrude seeks an order from the Commission permitting the sharing of non-public records, including price and quantity offers, outage information, and information required for restatements to the power pool and the dispatch of the Syncrude generation portfolio, between Syncrude and Suncor from September 30, 2021, or as early as approved, to June 1, 2029.
Hearing and parties to the proceeding Upon receipt of an application, Subsection 3(5) of the Fair, Efficient and Open Competition Regulation requires the Commission to publish notice of the application and hold, in private, a hearing or other proceeding involving the market participant that filed the application and the Market Surveillance Administrator (MSA), if the MSA chooses to participate in the hearing or other proceeding.
Accordingly, the parties in this proceeding will be limited to Syncrude and the MSA, if the MSA chooses to participate in the proceeding.
A copy of the application is filed with the Commission by Syncrude and is not available to the public.
Publicly available information regarding this proceeding is available through the AUC website at www.auc.ab.ca by logging in to the eFiling System and entering Proceeding 26584. To receive notification about this proceeding, please ensure you are registered as an observer in this proceeding.
Intervention in the proceeding If the MSA wishes to intervene in this proceeding, it must submit a statement of intent to participate to the Commission by the participation deadline of 4 p.m., June 30, 2021.
The submission should provide an indication as to whether the MSA supports or objects to the application and the supporting rationale. The information provided should also indicate whether the MSA requires an evidentiary process including information requests and filing of evidence. If the MSA is represented by another party, the contact information for the representative should be included.
If you have any questions with respect to this application, please contact Joanna Wright at 403-592-4379, or by email at [email protected].
Issued June 16, 2021.
Alberta Utilities Commission