Is a blackout coming to Alberta? What an AESO grid alert is, how often alerts happen, what to do during one, and how to prepare for a winter outage.
- An Alberta grid alert means demand could outstrip supply. It is not a blackout notice.
- AESO says the risk of supply problems this winter is very low, and alerts have been rare lately.
- Outages from storms and cold are the more common risk. Be ready for 72 hours.
Short answer: we have not found any announcement of a coming blackout in Alberta. What you may have seen are grid alerts, which are a different thing. This page explains the difference and what to do.
What a grid alert is
Alberta's grid operator, the AESO, issues a grid alert when demand gets high enough that it could outstrip supply. An emergency alert reads along the lines of: extreme cold resulting in high power demand has placed the grid at a high risk of rotating power outages. In the most severe case the AESO can cut power to different regions in turn, which is called rotating or rolling outages.
How often they happen
According to a December 2025 explainer in The Narwhal, alerts between 2006 and 2024 ranged from none to twelve a year, and only one alert showed in the AESO's monthly event logs for 2025. The AESO changed its alert system in December 2025 so that the public is notified only when there is an emergency and rolling outages are possible. The AESO has said Alberta is well prepared for winter demand and that the risk of supply adequacy problems is very low.
If an alert is issued
The instructions in an emergency alert are simple: cut electricity use right away. Do not charge an electric vehicle, turn off lights you do not need and do not use the oven. Cutting demand is how a province avoids rotating outages.
How to prepare anyway
Cold snaps are when alerts and storm outages are most likely to overlap. Start with the Government of Canada minimum of 72 hours of self-reliance: water, food that needs no cooking, light, a battery or crank radio, medication and a way to charge a phone. For heat, see keeping pipes from freezing and keeping your home warm. Our full Alberta outage guide covers cold, wildfire and storms.
Backup power picks (Canada)
If a cold-weather outage worries you, a power station can keep lights, phones and a router running. Check the sizing guide first.
Quick comparison
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Popular portable power stations and solar kits for short outages.
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Quick answers
Is a blackout coming to Alberta?
We have not found any announcement of one. Grid alerts are issued when demand could outstrip supply, and they are rare.
What should I do during an AESO alert?
Cut electricity use right away: do not charge an EV, turn off unneeded lights and do not use the oven.
Should I still prepare?
Yes. Storms and cold snaps cause outages, so be ready for at least 72 hours.