Abstract: In order to meet the expanding of oil sands development and to ensure the safe,orderly,environmentally responsible and sustainable development of oil sands,the Government of Alberta established a professional energy development and regulatory body named Alberta Energy Regulator based on the original Energy Resources Conservation Board.The agency oversees all energy development activities refers to all hydrocarbon resources include oil,gas and coal.This article presents the establishment and the structure of AER,as well as its regulatory functions and regulatory processes.Based on the analysis of several notable features of AER,makes a few suggestions on the regulation of shale gas development in China.