Alberta, meanwhile, says it isn’t treating Montana any differently than it does its Canadian neighbours. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementLast year, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative listed Alberta's non-profit electrical grid operator, the Alberta Electricity System Operator, or AESO, as a trade irritant. Zolnikov, who is chair of a Montana legislative committee studying technology and energy, said uncertainty around how transmission lines between Alberta and Montana are used is deterring investment in new infrastructure. The dispute between Alberta and Montana is tied to the practical challenges of running a modern electricity grid, said Ian Nieboer, managing director and head of energy transition research with Enverus Intelligence Research. WATCH | Is Alberta unfair to Montana power distributors, as U.S. trade rep claims?

Source: CBC News January 13, 2026 19:18 UTC