AESO Clarify Data Centre Staged Energizations
November 12, 2025
On November 5, 2025, the AESO published its November 2025 Connection Project List. Since its publication, the AESO has received numerous enquiries regarding changes between that list and its October list with respect to data centre connection requests.
AESO has confirmed they have not made any changes to either its Phase 1 or Phase 2 Data Centre connection processes. The principles and methodologies included in the Phase 1 MW allocation and subsequent aggregation remain unchanged. That process and continuing work on Phase 2 are outlined in the latest AESO data centre update.
Regarding staged project energizations (EN2) and related DTS contracts, the AESO reminds stakeholders that, as a matter of general practice, the EN2 (or subsequent) energization dates, including those for data centres, are outside, not target, dates. Where involved project parties move their projects forward more quickly, the AESO will amend the applicable DTS contracts to facilitate earlier in-service-dates. EN2 dates should not be taken as firm, expected in-service dates.
To give owners the project development flexibility they often look for, the AESO regularly provides DTS contracts with staged amendable, outside date DTS contracts. Stakeholders should not view the splitting out of data centre project DTS contracts from “under review” or EN1 categories as meaning that project development timelines have changed.
