Alberta Energy Regulator
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is a Canadian crown corporation responsible for regulating the development of energy resources in Alberta. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the AER's mandate under the Responsible Energy Development Act (REDA) since 2013 is to provide safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of energy resources in the province.
| Agency overview | |
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| Jurisdiction | Alberta |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent department | Alberta Energy, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas |
| Website | www |
Under the REDA, the Alberta Government established the AER in December 2012 to provide a one-stop shop for regulatory approvals after industry complained about the delays and costs of red tape. The legislation combined duties of the Energy Resources Conservation Board with responsibilities of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development to create a single entity to administer the Public Lands Act, the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and the Water Act.
The AER is a quasi-judicial, independent agency operating at arm's length from the Government of Alberta, under an appointed board of directors headed by Chair David Goldie. On 17 June 2013, all regulatory functions previously carried out by the Energy Resources Conservation Board were taken over by the AER.
The AER "regulates approximately 181,000 active wells, more than 50,000 oil and gas facilities, and 415,000 km (258,000 mi) of pipelines."