This analysis was generated from extensive trawls through public domain information, and structured by Indefine's methodology-driven concept of Market Participant role definition. Alberta has already developed automated trading structures involving distinct participants with defined roles in the electricity market. In the UK, the same process has lead to roles that are not necessarily the same, nor with the same granularity. Indefine's report compared the two markets so that the entrant was able to re-use its knowledge of the UK market to good effect.

The Albertan retail gas market appears to be less advanced in structure, although retail customer choice has been available since the end of 1998. As of March 2003, only 40,000 residential customers have exercised their right to choose their retailer of gas - out of about 1 million such customers in Alberta.