Oversight of the pipeline network in the oil-rich Canadian province of Alberta was found to be effective, though there's room for improvement, an audit found.

The Auditor General in Alberta reviewed pipeline safety for the province and found its energy regulator in general had performed well in terms of risk management and safety.

While the provincial Department of Environment was not meeting expectations, the Alberta Energy Regulator performed well "with a board and management that think as regulators," the audit found.

Alberta Energy Minister Frank Oberle said pipeline safety is important to a province at the heart of the nation's oil industry.

"Pipeline safety is important to Albertans and I am pleased that the Auditor General has found that we have a well-functioning system with effective oversight and enforcement," he said in a statement.

The Alberta Energy Regulator is tasked with ensuring pipeline operators act responsibly. Provincial authorities in 2013 found Plains Midstream Canada didn't act appropriately in its response to the release of about 28,000 barrels of crude oil from the Rainbow pipeline in Alberta, one of the largest spills since the 1970s.

In December, the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association said it welcomed proposed changes to a federal pipeline safety measure that would secure commitments to a polluter-pay principle.

At the provincial level, the Auditor General said improvements could be made in closing a skills gap and expanded analysis on the underlying causes of pipeline safety incidents.

Oberle said provincial leaders were working to implement the recommendations.