The Alberta Energy Regulator officially launched on Monday and will be responsible for regulating the province’s upstream oil, oilsands, natural gas and coal development.

The launch is just the first step towards full implementation of the regulatory agency and officials say additional regulatory functions will added over the next few months.

The Alberta Energy Regulator will take on the functions that were previously looked after by the Energy Resources Conservation Board.

The AER will assume additional responsibilities in the public lands, water, and the environmental areas over the next 12 months.

"We look forward to working with the Government of Alberta to ensure we manage the transition to a new regulator in a manner that is strategic and practical, balancing the need for consistency and regulatory certainty while bringing new environmental regulatory responsibilities into the AER," said Chief Executive Officer Jim Ellis. "Albertans can be assured that the regulator's highly trained technical staff remain dedicated to public safety, environmental protection, and conservation of our hydrocarbon resources throughout the transition."

AER board members and commissioners were announced last week.

The board will take on the governance and general direction of the regulator’s business dealings and the commissioners will conduct hearings and make decisions on energy resource project applications.