GRID WATCH

Canada's Utility News Roundup

Rates Rise, Yukon Retreats, and the North Stakes Its Claim

Rate decisions from New Brunswick to Quebec signal a sector under pressure, while Yukon's energy U-turn and a landmark Indigenous hydro deal reshape Canada's grid future.

Robert Ingram Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

National Headlines

Canada's 2024 Emissions Report: Electricity Sector Leads Cuts as Oil and Gas Rises

Canada's National Inventory Report, released April 15 without fanfare, shows 2024 emissions at 685 million tonnes — 10 per cent below 2005 levels. The electricity sector has cut its emissions by 57 per cent since 2005, driven by coal phase-outs and expanded hydro and nuclear capacity. However, oil and gas emissions rose, and the government's own projections confirm the 2030 target of 40–45 per cent below 2005 levels remains out of reach, according to CBC News.

Yukon Repeals Clean Energy Act, Offers Incentives to Switch Back to Fossil Fuels

The Yukon government has repealed its Clean Energy Act and is offering incentives for residents to switch away from electricity to fossil fuel heating sources, in a bid to relieve a strained grid. Energy critics warn the move reflects a failure of long-term planning and could worsen the territory's climate exposure. Yukon is warming two to three times faster than the national average. The government says connecting to B.C.'s grid and adding generation capacity remain priorities, but federal investment will be required.

Alberta Commits to Restoring Montana-Alberta Power Line to Full Capacity

Alberta has set a goal to restore the Montana-Alberta intertie to full capacity, responding to a longstanding trade irritant flagged by U.S. trade officials. Alberta's open electricity market means the province cannot directly order private operators, but new rules require the flow be maintained and milestone reports published quarterly. Industry observers said the move shows Alberta is beginning to take transmission modernisation seriously. Alberta became a net electricity exporter in 2024 and has fully phased out coal power.

Regional Roundup

New Brunswick Power Rates Jump 4.29 Per Cent Overnight

Electricity rates across New Brunswick rose 4.29 per cent effective April 14, following an order from the Energy and Utilities Board. The increase — slightly lower than N.B. Power's requested 4.75 per cent — is the fourth consecutive year of above-inflation rate hikes for the utility. Including rate riders, the cost of electricity has risen 34.9 per cent since April 2023. All three of the province's municipal utilities, including Saint John Energy, adopted the same increase on wholesale rates from N.B. Power.

N.W.T. Indigenous Governments Sign Letter of Intent for Taltson Hydro Ownership

Multiple Northwest Territories First Nations and Métis governments signed a letter of intent on April 18, signalling their intent to become co-owners of the proposed Taltson hydroelectric expansion. The project would quadruple the facility's output to over 80 megawatts, eventually serving more than 70 per cent of the territory's residents. Future stages would connect to Alberta and Saskatchewan's grids. Prime Minister Carney identified the project as part of his infrastructure plan for the North, with construction targeted for 2028.

Policy & Pricing

Nova Scotia Power Rate Increase Stalled Over Post-Cyberbreach Billing Questions

A pending 7.1 per cent cumulative rate increase for Nova Scotia Power residential customers has no firm implementation date, after regulators raised questions tied to last year's cybersecurity breach. The Nova Scotia Energy Board approved the increase in principle but sent the utility back to revise how it would prorate bills across billing cycles when new rates take effect. An initial 3.1 per cent increase is expected once the board gives final sign-off, with the remainder to follow in early 2027. Public protests over affordability continued in Halifax this week.

Innovation & Transition

Electric Ferries Are Breaking Records and Quietly Joining Canada's Fleet

Canada's ferry electrification push is accelerating, with B.C. Ferries operating six hybrid-electric vessels and Toronto set to receive its first all-electric passenger ferry by November. However, grid infrastructure is lagging: Ontario's two Kingston-area electric ferries are still burning diesel because charging berths remain incomplete. Toronto Hydro spent $9.2 million on a dedicated feeder to the Toronto Islands ferry terminal, with a further $50 million in construction underway. B.C. Hydro is upgrading distribution grids on two routes to enable fully electric operation by 2027, according to CBC News.

Worth Noting

Walpole Island First Nation and Boralex open $172M Ontario battery storage facility. Read More

Manitoba Hydro meter tampering cases nearly tripled in 2025 to 188 incidents. Read More

SaskPower and Manitoba Hydro study puts $1.8B price tag on interprovincial link. Read More

AESO adds 80 MW Raptor Battery storage to Alberta grid, effective April 24. Read More