An Alberta grid alert tells you how electricity supply is keeping up with demand. The AESO uses four conditions:
- Normal: supply meets demand and keeps reserves available.
- Watch: all available energy is in use, but reserves remain intact.
- Attention: some reserves are in use. Reduce use if safe to do so.
- Energy Emergency: supply and reserves cannot meet demand. Reduce use immediately if safe to do so.
Only Attention and Energy Emergency ask you to cut use.
What do the four grid conditions mean?
The updated communications took effect on 16 December 2025 (from 16 December 2025) [source]. Here is what each condition means for your home.
| Condition | What it means | What you are asked to do |
|---|---|---|
| Normal (from 16 December 2025) [source] | Supply meets current demand and keeps reserves available. (from 16 December 2025) [source] | No request to cut household use. (from 16 December 2025) [source] |
| Watch (from 16 December 2025) [source] | All available energy is in use to keep the grid reliable. Reserves remain intact. (from 16 December 2025) [source] | No request to cut household use. (from 16 December 2025) [source] |
| Attention (from 16 December 2025) [source] | All available energy and some reserves are in use. More demand or a supply loss could lead to emergency operations. (from 16 December 2025) [source] | You are encouraged to reduce energy use, if safe to do so. (from 16 December 2025) [source] |
| Energy Emergency (from 16 December 2025) [source] | All available energy and reserves are in use and cannot meet demand. Controlled temporary outages may occur. (from 16 December 2025) [source] | Reduce energy use immediately, if safe to do so. (from 16 December 2025) [source] |
What should I switch off, and when?
Cut nonessential use only if safe to do so. Keep heat and medical equipment on. Do not put health or warmth at risk.
At Attention, you are encouraged to cut use safely. At Energy Emergency, do it immediately. The AESO’s practical steps are:
- Delay washers and dryers until off-peak hours. (read 21 October 2026) [source]
- Postpone electric vehicle charging and plugging in block heaters. (read 21 October 2026) [source]
- Use a microwave, air fryer or slow cooker instead of an electric stove. (read 21 October 2026) [source]
- Turn off unnecessary lights, ventilation fans and appliances. (read 21 October 2026) [source]
Winter peak hours are 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Alberta local time (read 21 October 2026) [source]. Summer peak hours are 5:00 to 9:30 p.m., Alberta local time (read 21 October 2026) [source].
Plan laundry and charging outside these hours. If an emergency request is active, follow it even outside peak hours. Check the AESO status before restarting tasks you delayed.
What is a rotating outage?
Temporary rotating power outages are a last resort to maintain grid reliability. (read 21 October 2026) [source]
Power is temporarily out in different areas until supply returns or demand falls enough to rebalance the grid. Each distributor manages its local outages. (13 January 2024 to 13 January 2024) [source]
Check your electricity distributor’s outage page for your area. Your distributor operates the local wires; it may differ from the retailer that sends your bill.
How do I hear about an alert?
The AESO offers email subscriptions for automated grid condition updates. (from 16 December 2025) [source] Use the Subscribe for Grid Condition Updates form on the AESO Understanding Grid Conditions page.
For the current condition and action request, open the AESO Understanding Grid Conditions status page. Conditions can change quickly.
An Alberta Emergency Alert was used on 13 January 2024. The dated example below explains what it asked people to do.
What happened on 13 January 2024?
At 3:30 p.m. on 13 January 2024, the AESO declared a Grid Alert due to extreme cold, restricted imports and very high demand. (13 January 2024 to 13 January 2024) [source] The time is Alberta local time.
Albertans were asked to immediately reduce electricity use to essential needs only to minimize the potential for rotating outages. (13 January 2024 to 13 January 2024) [source]
The Alberta Emergency Management Agency issued an Alberta Emergency Alert at 6:44 p.m. on 13 January 2024. It warned of a high risk of rotating outages that evening. (13 January 2024 to 13 January 2024) [source] This time is also Alberta local time.
Limit electricity to essential needs. Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances, delay major appliances, electric vehicle charging and block heaters, and cook with a microwave instead of a stove. (13 January 2024 to 13 January 2024) [source]
These were requests made during that event. Use the current AESO condition and action request when deciding what to do today.
Does an alert change my bill?
This page does not cover prices; see our electricity and gas prices guide.
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Questions people ask
What does an Alberta grid alert mean?
It describes how well electricity supply is meeting demand and whether reserves are needed. The AESO uses Normal, Watch, Attention and Energy Emergency. Only the last two ask households to cut use. Read the current condition on the AESO status page and follow its action request.
What should I switch off during an energy emergency?
Reduce electricity use immediately, if safe to do so. Delay laundry, electric vehicle charging and block heaters. Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances. Use a microwave instead of an electric stove when practical. Keep heat and medical equipment on. Essential needs come first when deciding what can wait.
Does a grid alert mean my home will lose power?
An alert does not mean every home will lose power. During an Energy Emergency, controlled temporary outages may occur. Rotating outages are a last resort to help balance supply and demand. Your distributor manages local outages, so check its outage page for information about your area.
Where can I check an Alberta grid alert today?
Open the AESO Understanding Grid Conditions page for the current condition and action request. Use the Subscribe for Grid Condition Updates form on that page to get email updates. An Alberta Emergency Alert was also used during the January cold weather emergency. This guide does not report live grid status.
Sources
Written by the BillRobin team. Updated .
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https://billrobin.com/ca/en/alberta/energy/grid-alerts?utm_medium=share&utm_source=page
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