Montana Congressional Delegation Warns of Grid Reliability Threats from Alberta

WASHINGTON — Montana’s entire congressional delegation has urged federal trade officials to address discriminatory electricity market practices by Alberta’s system operator that could threaten grid reliability across the state.

Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, along with Representatives Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing, sent a letter Monday to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer warning that Alberta’s rules could harm Montana energy producers and jeopardize electrical grid stability.

“We write to urge you to prioritize and raise the ongoing and escalating discriminating trade practices imposed by the Alberta Electric System Operator against Montana energy firms trading in the Alberta electricity market,” the lawmakers wrote.

The letter highlights concerns about the Montana-Alberta Tie Line, which connects the state’s electrical grid to Alberta’s system and facilitates cross-border electricity trade.

Grid Reliability at Risk

The lawmakers said Alberta’s Electric System Operator has “significantly deviated” from North American Electric Reliability Corporation standards that Montana follows, forcing Montana’s grid to provide “uncompensated frequency response” to maintain system stability.

“Under certain conditions, this may undermine the reliability of Montana’s electricity grid,” they wrote. “For areas that see extreme cold snaps with temperatures plunging well below zero degrees Fahrenheit, safe and reliable electricity can mean the difference between life and death.”

The delegation warned that Alberta’s current rules and proposed changes would worsen existing barriers to U.S. energy imports and put Montana producers at a disadvantage.

Trade Discrimination Concerns

According to the letter, Alberta’s current rules “flatly discriminate against U.S. electricity imports” and impose “unfair costs on American producers.”

Proposed changes to Alberta’s electricity market design would “worsen existing protectionist practices by further excluding U.S. energy imports,” the lawmakers said.

The discrimination affects Montana’s ability to compete in Alberta’s electricity market and could deter future investment in the state’s electrical grid infrastructure.

Economic and Security Implications

The lawmakers warned that Alberta’s practices could impose significant economic harm on Montana energy producers and undermine domestic energy security.

“Montana is uniquely vulnerable to these discriminatory practices,” they wrote, calling for the issue to be prioritized in future negotiations with Canadian officials.

The delegation noted that concerned parties have provided detailed analysis of Alberta’s proposed actions and their potential harm to the domestic energy sector.

Federal Action Requested

The lawmakers referenced the 2025 National Trade Estimate, indicating the issue has received some federal attention, but called for more aggressive action.

“We request that you employ all available tools at your disposal to bring about a swift resolution to this ongoing issue,” they wrote.

The delegation emphasized that until Alberta creates a level playing field between Alberta and U.S.-based energy producers, Montana will continue to face negative impacts from the lack of reciprocity.

The Montana-Alberta Tie Line serves as “a vital component of grid stability” for both Montana and Canada, according to the letter.

The lawmakers stressed that the discriminatory practices “perpetuate discriminatory trade practices that undermine domestic energy security” and could jeopardize “the reliability of cross-border electricity infrastructure.”