CER – End of Life Cycle Program

Overview

TC Energy’s commitment to managing pipeline assets safely and responsibly throughout the life cycle includes eventual abandonment when pipelines and associated facilities are no longer necessary for service.

With Canada Energy Regulator (CER or Regulator) (previously the National Energy Board) oversight and approval of our federally-regulated pipelines and facilities, TC Energy ensures sufficient funds are available for pipeline system abandonment and decommissioning activities.

• These funds are set-aside in abandonment Trusts established for each of the individual larger pipeline companies: TransCanada PipeLines Limited (TCPL), NGTL GP Ltd., as general partner on behalf of NGTL Limited Partnership (NGTL), Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd. (Foothills) and Trans Québec & Maritimes Pipeline Inc. (TQM).
• For Great Lakes Pipeline Canada (GLC), a letter of credit is used to set aside funds for abandonment.

Ensuring there is sufficient funding is part of TC Energy’s overall commitment to landowners, Indigenous peoples and communities to ensure safe and responsible retirement of our assets. TC Energy manages this funding and regularly reports on the funding status to the Regulator.

Read more about the financial aspects of this process on the CER’s website.

Physical pipeline system abandonment

When TC Energy decides to physically decommission or abandon any assets, the appropriate notifications or applications are filed with the Regulator for any necessary approvals that may be required before the work can commence. At the end of their lifecycle, pipeline assets are taken out of service with as much thought and care as when new facilities are proposed and constructed. We follow the CER’s processes for end-of-life planning. More information about the pipeline life cycle can be found on our website.

Information on what the abandonment of a federally-regulated pipeline is, the Regulator’s role, and how you can participate in the Regulator’s assessment of a company’s proposed abandonment project can also be accessed on the Regulator’s website.

Financial aspects of pipeline abandonment

The funds required for abandonment and decommissioning of pipeline assets are based on carefully prepared abandonment cost estimates (ACEs). The Regulator committed to the public, all landowners, Indigenous peoples and interested stakeholders that cost estimates would be reviewed regularly, at least every five years to ensure sufficient funds are available. The Regulator examines the reasonableness of the assumptions regarding proposed abandonment methods, the scope and rationale for each abandonment activity, the estimated costs for the various activities, and the approach to the estimation of contingency and provisions for post abandonment.  

The TCPL, NGTL, Foothills, TQM and GLC most recently approved ACEs can be found on the Regulator’s site.

TCPL, NGTL, Foothills, and TQM use Trusts as their set-aside mechanism

The Regulator approved the Trust Agreements applicable to each of TCPL, NGTL, Foothills, and TQM. These trust agreements can be accessed below under the Financial Reporting heading.

Annual reporting

TC Energy files Annual Abandonment Reporting Forms for each of the pipeline systems that have established Trusts with the Regulator. In addition, independent auditors review the annual financial statements of each Trust and provide an opinion as to whether the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and performance of the Trust at year-end. This reporting allows for greater transparency for landowners, Indigenous peoples, members of the public, and other stakeholders by providing actual amounts collected in the year along with the Trust balances. It also helps demonstrate that any investment decisions have complied with the Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures (SIPP) applicable to each pipeline system (see below for further information on the SIPP).  Annual reporting can be found at the bottom of this page and is filed with the Regulator by April 30 of each year for year-end performance of the prior year.

Trust investments

The money set aside for pipeline abandonment is invested by the designated Trustee according to the SIPPs, similar to a pension fund. Each applicable pipeline’s current SIPP is filed with the Regulator. Any material change to a SIPP will be reflected in a revised filing with the Regulator.

The purpose of the SIPP is to communicate the investment guidelines and monitoring procedures appropriate to the objectives of the Trust and in accordance with the Regulator’s MH-001-2013 Reasons for Decision on Set Aside and Collection Mechanisms.

Reimbursement and accessing Trust funds

For companies that established a Trust to fund abandonment and decommissioning activities, the funds in the Trusts can be used to fund eligible activities (known as reclamation obligations), subject to approval of the Regulator. Companies typically pre-fund reclamation activities and seek reimbursement from their respective Trusts for the costs incurred for reclamation obligations, subject to the Regulator's oversight and approval.

GLC uses a Letter of Credit as its set-aside mechanism

Annual reporting 

GLC is the only company under TC Energy that uses a Letter of Credit to ensure there is sufficient funding for any future abandonment activities. It reports to the Regulator on the status of its Letter of Credit annually. Annual reporting forms can be found in the following section and are due to the Regulator by January 31 each year.