FAQ for Commodity Tracking System (CTS)

The CER authorizes and regulates energy trade through long-term licenses, permits, and short-term orders. As part of the terms and conditions, holders of these regulatory instruments must submit, on a monthly basis, information regarding their export and import activity.

The CER uses the collected data and information to fulfill its regulatory mandate to monitor Canada’s energy markets – especially export prices and volumes.

In addition, the CER compiles data, shares aggregated data with Statistics Canada and other government organizations. Collected data are used as input to Canada’s GDP calculation.

The aggregated statistical data and information is also available on the CER website – Energy commodities.

Monthly. The CER publishes monthly export statistics for Crude Oil and Refined Petroleum Products (RPP), Natural Gas (including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)), Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) and Electricity.

Crude Oil, RPPs, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids:

Yes, reports must be submitted to the CER by the last day of each month for the previous month’s export and/or import activities.  For example, all export and/or import activity that occurs during the month of January must be submitted to the CER by the last day of February.  (See section 7 of the National Energy Board Export and Import Reporting Regulations).

Electricity:

Yes, reports must be submitted to the CER by the 15^th day of each month for the previous month’s export activities.  For example, all export and/or import activity that occurs during the month of January must be submitted to the CER by the February 15th.  (See section 8 of the National Energy Board Export and Import Reporting Regulations).

Prior to publishing the data, the CER checks that the data is reasonable and investigates outliers and anomalies.

Crude oil and/or refined petroleum products short-term export order application submission deadlines:

• No deadline for applicants requesting an order for the current calendar year.
• The deadline for applicants requesting a one year order starting January 1 of the following calendar year is the first business day of November of the current year.

Heavy crude oil short-term export order application submission deadlines:

• No deadline for applicants requesting an order for the current calendar year.
• The deadline for applicants requesting a two-year order starting January 1 of the following calendar year is the first business day of November of the current year.

Natural gas export or import applications are accepted throughout the calendar year.

Propane and/or butane export order application submission deadlines:

• No deadline for applicants requesting an order for the current calendar year.
• The deadline for applicants requesting a one-year order starting January 1 of the following calendar year is the first business day of November of the current year.

Ethane export order application submission deadlines:

• No deadline for applicants requesting an order for the current calendar year.
• The deadline for applicants requesting a two-year order starting January  1 of the following calendar year is the first business day of November of the current year.

Complete and send the appropriate form to CTS-SSP@cer-rec.gc.ca.

• Annex C – Athorized Filer Form – NGL [WORD 707 ko]
• Annex D – Athorized Filer Form – Gas [WORD 707 ko]
• Annex E – Athorized Filer Form – Crude and Refined Petroleum Products [WORD 707 ko]
• Annex F – Athorized Filer Form – Electricity [WORD 707 ko]

Send your request to remove an authorized filer from your organization to CTS-SSP@cer-rec.gc.ca.

For Crude, RPP, Natural Gas, NGL short term export Orders, Natural Gas import Orders, or Electricity Permits:

Your company will need to apply for a new regulatory instrument before it expires. Applications can be submitted online here:
 Natural Gas Order Applications (Note: you cannot backdate your commencement date).

Please contact DLInquiries-Exports-Hydrocarbons@cer-rec.gc.ca if you have any questions regarding the application process. 

If you have any questions regarding your monthly filings please continue to send your questions to: CTS-SSP@cer-rec.gc.ca.

For Crude, RPP, Natural Gas/LNG or NGL long-term export licences you must submit an application to the Canada Energy Regulator. Any questions regarding the application process, please contact DLInquiries-Exports-Hydrocarbons@cer-rec.gc.ca

Yes, monthly reporting is a mandatory condition regardless if there have been any volumes actually exported. When a licence or order is in effect but no exports or imports have occurred during the month, a "NIL" report must be submitted. If your organization no longer requires an export or import order, then you may submit an official letter to the CER informing us that you would like to revoke export or import order XX-XXX-XXXX (see item 16 of CTS FAQs for details on revocation).

Send an e-mail to CTS-SSP@cer-rec.gc.ca requesting a new CTS URL link. Please include company name and the commodity you require a CTS URL link for.

To revise the filing, you need to select Submitted Filings on Commodity Home Page, select the month you want to revise and on the Bottom of screen click on Click here to revise this filing.

Contact CTS administrators at CTS-SSP@cer-rec.gc.ca if you have commodity specific questions on revision.

Login to CTS and submit the correct month. Then, when it’s time to submit for the month you already submitted before, by mistake, click on revise this filing. Once you click on revise, CTS pulls out that month.

For example, if you submitted April numbers under May, when it is time to submit for May, on Commodity Home Page go to your May report (where you submitted April numbers), press “Click here to revise this filing”. Input the correct May data and submit.

Click on ‘Forgot Username or Password’ or re-register.

If you have a question or issues regarding GC Key, contact a GC Key customer service representative. GC KEY– 1-855-438-1102 (Canada and U.S.)

If you have question or issues regarding SecureKey Concierge, contact the SecureKey Concierge help desk toll free. SECUREKEY – 1-855-433-5397 (Canada and U.S.)

Si vous avez des questions sur SecureKey Service de Concierge, il suffit de composer le numéro sans frais du centre d’assistance de SecureKey : 1-855-433-5397 (Canada et États-Unis).

CTS Administrators can only send you new monthly URLs, CTS security answer sheet, company filing ID and Single Use Code. They do not have access to GC Key or SecureKey Concierge.

For Crude, RPP, Natural Gas/LNG or NGL long-term export licences you must submit an application to the Canada Energy Regulator. Any questions regarding the application process, please contact DLInquiries-Exports-Hydrocarbons@cer-rec.gc.ca,

Please note that the CER does not backdate documents. The name change on the amending Order will take place on the date the Duty Panel approves the change.

You will be able to use same username and password to log into CTS. However, the Company Filing ID and Single Use Code will change. CTS Administrators will provide you with the new information.

The report of export activity is based on the date the product is exported out of (shipped out of/left) Canada.

You must submit a letter to the CER requesting the revocation of your regulatory instrument (export/import order, licence or permit). Your letter must:

• Be on your company's letterhead
• Be addressed to the Secretary of the CER
• Refer to Order, Permit, or Licence number
• Explain your request (cancel, revoke, etc.)
• Be signed by an Authorized person from your company
• Be faxed to 403-292-5503

If you have any other questions, please contact: DLInquiries-Exports-Hydrocarbons@cer-rec.gc.ca.

The service standard for short-term Export or Import Orders is to Issue a decision within 2 business days of receipt of a complete application.

The service standard for short-term oil, propane and/or butane Export Order Renewal Decision is to issue a decision by December 31 of the year of the order’s renewal.

Source: Canada Energy Regulator service standards and performance information

You need to apply for a new Order ASAP.

For Crude, RPP, Natural Gas, NGL short term export Orders, Natural Gas import Orders, or Electricity Permits:

Your company will need to apply for a new regulatory instrument before it expires. Applications can be submitted online here:
Natural Gas Order Applications (Note: you cannot backdate your commencement date)

Please contact DLInquiries-Exports-Hydrocarbons@cer-rec.gc.ca if you have any questions regarding the application process.

If you have any questions regarding your monthly filings please continue to send your questions to: CTS-SSP@cer-rec.gc.ca.

For your in-transit order you would go into the “natural gas export” screen on Commodity Home Page, select “GOL-XXX-XXXX” and report the volume of gas leaving Canada. After that you go into the “natural gas Import” screen, select “GOL-XXX-XXXX” and report the volume of gas returning into Canada.

No, the CER does not issue extensions for existing gas export or import orders. The CER authorizes new orders upon approval of an application. The regulatory instrument number will change.

According to the Regulations, a company can apply for gas export or import Order “for a period not exceeding two years”, which means the company can apply for an order with a term from 1 day to 2 years.

The gas price includes the transportation costs to the border.

The export price should be the average Freight on Board price in Canadian cents per litre at point of loading or the average supplier’s price + freight at point of loading.     

Note: Freight on Board - term of sale under which the price invoiced or quoted by a seller includes all charges up to placing the goods on board of a ship at the port of departure specified by the buyer. Also called collect freight, freight collect, or freight forward.

The export price should be the average Freight on Board price in Canadian cents per litre at point of loading or the average supplier’s price + freight at point of loading.     

Note: Freight on Board – term of sale under which the price invoiced or quoted by a seller includes all charges up to placing the goods on board of a ship at the port of departure specified by the buyer. Also called collect freight, freight collect, or freight forward.

No, there is no minimum volume for reporting, as long as you have an export order, you must submit a report to the CER.

You can only download the Crude Oil Export data by range of period if available on the web page. Due to confidentiality, some data will not be available and cannot be broken down for more details.

The Canadian Crude Oil Exports by Rail – Monthly Data is available around the third week of the month:
Canadian Crude Oil Exports by Rail – Monthly Data

Due to the confidentiality of the Canadian Crude Oil Exports by Rail – Monthly Data, we do not publish the destination.

Weekly Crude Run report is published every Thursday:
Weekly Crude Run Summary and Data

By entering the period, you will get the weekly report. The period ending is every Tuesday.

Historical data starts from 2006 and is updated every couple month.

Due to confidentiality the Weekly Crude Run report is not listed by refineries. It is only available by regions.

National Energy Board Electricity Regulations (SOR/97-130)

firm energy means energy that is intended to be available at all specified times during a period covered by an agreement respecting the sale thereof;

interruptible energy means energy that is made available under an agreement that permits curtailment, interruption or cessation of delivery at the option of the supplier;

The CER collects and aggregates LPG inventories on a monthly basis. The most recent month’s data reflects inventories as they stand at the previous month end. For example, data released in January reveals the December month end inventory levels.

Inventory levels for propane(s), butane(s), LPG mixes, and ethane are included.

No, the dataset only includes underground facilities.

Underground facility operators provide the CER with inventory levels by commodity for their location(s) on a voluntary basis.

The release date may vary month to month depending on when the CER receives data from filing companies. The CER will endeavor to make the data available no later than the end of the third week of every month.