FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8th, 2025
Daines, Sheehy, Zinke, Downing Urge USTR to Address Unfair Trade Practices on Montana-Alberta Tie Line
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, along with Representatives Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and Troy Downing (MT-02) today sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer drawing attention to trade barriers on the Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL).
“We write to call to your attention ongoing and escalating discriminating trade practices imposed by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) against Montana energy firms trading in the Alberta electricity market. If unaddressed, these measures may impose significant economic harm on American energy producers, jeopardize the reliability of cross-border electricity infrastructure, and perpetuate discriminatory trade practices that undermine domestic energy security…
…Unfortunately, the AESO’s current rules and practices flatly discriminate against U.S. electricity imports. Furthermore, the AESO is currently proposing potential changes to the Alberta electricity market design that would worsen existing protectionist practices by further excluding U.S. energy imports. This will result in diminished market access by imposing unfair costs on American producers and putting them at a distinct disadvantage to deliver reliable and affordable electricity…
We request that you employ all available tools at your disposal to bring about a swift resolution to this ongoing issue,” they wrote in the letter.
Read the full letter HERE.
Background:
The Montana-Alberta Tie Line interconnects Montana and Alberta’s electricity grids. The Alberta government and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) have enacted regulations that discriminate specifically against Montana electricity exports, which if left unaddressed would threaten the stability of Montana’s electric grid and harm the state’s energy producers.
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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins