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News from week of July 20th – July 27th, 2026
GRID WATCH Canada's Utility News Roundup Disclaimer: Grid Watch is an independent publication. Views expressed are author's own and do not reflect the positions of Manitoba Hydro or any other featured utility.
Planning for a Bigger GridThis week's edition follows utilities and governments trying to build ahead of load growth without losing sight of reliability or bills.
The Grid Watch hit 100 subscribers across 2 provinces and I am so happy and grateful for you all!! In celebration, I would like to announce the addition of our new 'Big Read', 'Spotlight' and 'Events' sections, let me know what you think! - Rob
In this week's issue...
🔹 Maritime provinces weigh a regional electricity operator and new undersea cables. ⚡ B.C. moves its first utility-scale battery project toward procurement. 📊 C.D. Howe tests Saskatchewan's coal-to-SMR bridge against gas-renewable alternatives. 
Maritime premiers announce regional electricity co-operation in Charlottetown. Source: CBC News. National Headlines3 Maritime provinces to consider regional electricity operatorCBC News, July 23rd 2026 New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. signed an MOU to create a regional electricity road map by next spring and study an independent Maritime system operator. The deal also includes federal planning support for two new 200-MW undersea cables between New Brunswick and P.E.I., with related transmission and substation work targeted for construction by 2028. Ottawa proposes major-project review changes affecting transmission decisionsGovernment of Canada, July 2026 Canada's discussion paper on major-project approvals proposes single project authorities and shorter, clearer timelines. For federally regulated power lines, pipelines and offshore energy projects, the paper says the Canada Energy Regulator would remain the expert decision-maker, with smaller projects receiving reduced decision timelines and larger projects getting earlier public-interest decisions. The Big ReadThe High Cost of Coal-Fired Power as a Bridge to NuclearC.D. Howe Institute, July 23rd 2026 | Perspective | Score: 90/100 Brett Dolter argues Saskatchewan's plan to extend coal generation until SMRs arrive would cost ratepayers more than a gas-and-renewables bridge. His modelling estimates a coal-to-SMR path would add 116 to 119 megatonnes of emissions from 2030 to 2050 and cost $696 million to $1.1 billion more per year on average than scenarios pairing new gas capacity with wind and solar. For utilities, the piece is less about one technology preference than about sequencing: dispatchable backup, emissions rules, capital timing and rate impacts all have to be solved together. Regional RoundupManitoba Hydro's energy plan set to be scrutinizedWinnipeg Free Press, July 27th 2026 The Public Utilities Board opened six weeks of hearings into Manitoba Hydro's 10-year integrated resource plan and major new facilities review. The plan includes proposed Brandon natural-gas turbines, Indigenous-owned wind farms and options for meeting demand while the Crown utility manages a projected energy shortfall, aging assets and roughly $25 billion in debt. B.C. announces first utility-scale battery storage projectCBC News, July 20th 2026 BC Hydro selected a site near Duncan for British Columbia's first utility-scale battery energy storage project. The project is expected to provide at least 100 MW of flexible capacity by 2030, storing power when demand is lower and dispatching during peaks. BC Hydro plans to launch supplier qualification by the end of July. 
Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission infrastructure. Source: Montreal Gazette. New power line between Quebec and New York is down againMontreal Gazette, July 2026 The Champlain Hudson Power Express, which began commercial service in May, experienced a second outage on the U.S. portion of the line. Hydro-Québec said the outage does not threaten Quebec supply because exports can move through other routes and domestic security remains the utility's first obligation. Policy & Pricing'Eight credible threats' against Hydro employees: CEOWinnipeg Free Press, July 27th 2026 Manitoba Hydro CEO Allan Danroth told PUB hearings the utility is managing eight credible threats against employees, including five directed at him. The statement came as Hydro defended its integrated resource plan and proposed Brandon combustion turbines, while interveners questioned cost, gas reliance and customer impacts. Ontario demand data keeps peak-load planning in focusIndependent Electricity System Operator, July 26th 2026 IESO's power-data dashboard listed Ontario's top Industrial Conservation Initiative demand peak at 25,646 MW for July 14, with July 2026 already dominating the province's current base-period peak tracker. For large consumers and distributors, the data reinforces how heat, electrification and conservation programs shape system planning and Global Adjustment exposure. Innovation & TransitionBC Hydro adds 13-port fast-charge hub in RichmondBC Hydro, July 2026 BC Hydro opened a new EV fast-charge hub at Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Richmond campus, with room for 13 vehicles. The release says the site supports a broader $700-million plan to more than triple the utility's public charging network to 3,500 ports by 2035. Ontario utilities launch EV load-management AI projectThe Globe and Mail, July 21st 2026 BluWave-ai and four Ontario utilities launched a province-wide EV and distribution-grid load-management project. The initiative involves Oshawa Power, Oakville Hydro, Enova Power and Essex Powerlines, using connected EVs to manage local transformer and substation constraints while supporting IESO grid stability. Worth NotingP.E.I. premier keeps undersea cable expansion on Ottawa's radar. Read More CBC News, July 27th 2026 Electricity Canada recognizes utility members for employee-safety performance. Read More Electricity Canada, July 2026 Hydro-Quebec contract supports planned St. Lawrence hydrokinetic pilot. Read More Le Devoir, July 2026 Enjoying this brief? Share it with a colleague. Subscribe to Grid Watch hereHave a news story we should cover, a tip, or thoughts on this edition? Send it over. Want to reach this audience? Sponsor a future edition. | ||
Grid Watch | By Action Intelligence Group (AIG) | 421 Mulvey Ave, Winnipeg, MB, Canada | © 2026 Action Intelligence Group. All rights reserved. |
