GRID WATCH

Canada's Utility News Roundup

Power Politics and Grid Build-Out Take Centre Stage

Federal energy strategy, provincial grid expansion, and storage additions shaped this week’s utility agenda across Canada.

Robert Ingram Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

National Headlines

Canada Will Use Energy Sector as Leverage in CUSMA Talks, Minister Says

Global News, April 24th 2026

Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said Canada will use energy exports, electricity, forest products and minerals as key bargaining chips in the next round of CUSMA talks. According to Global News, Hodgson also said his year-two agenda includes a coherent national strategy for electricity and nuclear energy, arguing that major goals from AI to advanced manufacturing depend on reliable and affordable power.

The Future of Electricity Is Wind and Solar, New Report Says. Canada Is Lagging Behind

CBC News, April 21st 2026

CBC reports that a new Ember analysis points to wind and solar supplying nearly all growth in global electricity demand, while Canada still relies heavily on hydro and nuclear and remains slower to scale new renewables. The piece highlights large recent procurements in Quebec, B.C. and Ontario, but notes drought-related pressure on hydro output and the need for more generation diversity.

Regional Roundup

Manitoba Crypto Firms Push Back on Higher Hydro Rates and Peak Curtailment Plans

Winnipeg Free Press, April 23rd 2026

Manitoba’s proposed legislation would let the province charge cryptocurrency operations and data centres up to double the normal electricity rate and temporarily curtail their power during peaks. The Winnipeg Free Press reports the government says the measures are needed because Manitoba Hydro is nearing capacity at peak times, while operators told a legislative committee the changes could make their businesses unviable.

Hydro-Québec Launches Consultation on Dorion 315-kV Substation and Supply Line

Hydro-Québec, April 22nd 2026

Hydro-Québec opened an information session and consultation round for a new 315-kV substation and transmission line in the Vaudreuil-Dorion area. The utility says the project is needed to address sustained growth, overloaded substations, constrained 120-kV crossings of the St. Lawrence and rising service connection demand. Government approvals would run from 2026 to 2028, with construction targeted for 2029 to 2032.

Ottawa Approves Enbridge’s $4-Billion Sunrise Expansion in British Columbia

BNN Bloomberg, April 24th 2026

The federal government approved Enbridge’s Sunrise expansion, a $4-billion project that will add 300 million cubic feet per day of capacity to the Westcoast system in British Columbia. BNN Bloomberg, citing The Canadian Press, says the project is expected to begin construction this summer and is intended to support heating load, electric power generation, industrial demand and LNG-linked growth while operating under 47 binding conditions.

Policy & Pricing

IESO Administers Prices and Republishes Market Reports After April 23 Review

IESO, April 23rd 2026

Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator said prices for HE14 and HE15 on INT1 were administered following a market results review for trade date April 23. The IESO republished multiple five-minute energy and reserve reports under market rules. While narrow in scope, the notice is operationally relevant for market participants tracking settlement accuracy, intertie behaviour and the integrity of Ontario’s renewed market data flows.

Innovation & Transition

AESO Connects New 80-MW Raptor Battery Resource to Alberta Market

AESO, April 24th 2026

The Alberta Electric System Operator confirmed Jurassic Solar LP’s 80-MW Raptor Battery resource entered the market effective April 24. AESO said the new storage asset will be reflected on its current supply and demand pages and incorporated into outage graphs. The notice adds another utility-scale battery to Alberta’s evolving grid, where storage is increasingly relevant for balancing renewables and responding to short-term system conditions.

Study Says Ontario Could Cut Some Grid Upgrade Costs with Non-Wires Solutions

Clean Energy Canada, April 23rd 2026

Clean Energy Canada says a Brattle analysis of Essex Powerlines territory found distributed energy resources such as batteries, demand response and two-way EV chargers could defer some local distribution upgrades and cut related costs by up to 11%. The study says deferral windows ranged from 3.5 to eight years, adding to Ontario’s case for integrating non-wires alternatives into utility planning as demand rises.

Worth Noting

SaskPower plans $270-million northern transmission upgrade to support mining growth. Read More

SaskToday, April 21st 2026

Ontario development changes could raise energy costs, Pembina warns. Read More

Pembina Institute, April 22nd 2026

Minister says Canada needs coherent electricity and nuclear strategy within a year. Read More

Natural Resources Canada, April 24th 2026