Agent Qualification

Agents have proven to be important participants in Alberta's electric industry, providing billing, settlement and transaction services for retailers and self-retailers.

Qualifying with ATCO Electric requires that the Agent successfully complete compliance testing of the standard format Settlement System Code transactions.   An Agent may choose to compliance test only,  however ATCO Electric encourages new agents to familiarize themselves with the following:

• ATCO Usage Reports

• Retailer Qualification

Contact Information

To register as an agent with ATCO Electric, the Agent should contact the retailer representative.  The contact information for registering and compliance testing is listed below:

Compliance Testing

ATCO Electric arranges compliance testing.
ATCO Electric will notify the agent (if an agent is appointed) or the retailer (if no agent is appointed) and arrange Compliance Testing of the Settlement System Code transactions with the retailer or agent.  The agent or retailer must have purchased and installed VL Trader communications software and generate a self-signed user certificate before testing can be arranged.  

Agents are required to successfully complete one compliance test using a theoretical retailer who's retailer ID,  ATCO Electric will provide.  See Compliance Testing. 

Distribution Billing

Effective July 1, 2006, ATCO Electric has begun publishing Tariff Bill Files in accordance with the Tariff Billing Code. Click here for details.

ATCO Usage Reports

ATCO Electric has a number of different reports available.  The standard reports are usage history reports, sent electronically in DCM or DIM format.  Other reports are available upon request.   Customer data cannot be released without consent by the customer or by assignment of an Agent.  No authorization is required for requests made by a retailer or his agent for customers that he currently retails.  To request a Usage Report, please download the Authorization & Release Form.  Please note that the Authorization & Release Form serves as both an Authorization Form and a Request Form.

Agreements

Assignment  as an agent requires that the Retailer or Self retailer sign and return to ATCO Electric Agency Appointment Agreement.