SaskPower seeks emergency US power export

Summary#

• Saskatchewan Power Corporation applied to the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator on December 5, 2019 to be allowed to export electricity to the United States on an emergency basis.
• The request is for up to 150 MW over any 60-minute period and for other transfer exports, both for 10 years, and the Commission is asking for public comments before it decides.

What it does#

• Asks permission to export up to 150 MW of firm power during any 60-minute period for 10 years.
• Asks permission to make “carrier and adjustment” transfer exports up to the physical limits of Saskatchewan’s high-voltage lines that connect to the United States, for 10 years.
• Says any emergency exports would follow the Emergency Energy Pricing and Settlement Agreement (signed December 13, 2018) and the Joint Operating Agreement with Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (dated October 1, 2015).
• The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator is collecting views from interested parties before it issues a permit or starts a formal licensing process.
• The application is available for public viewing at Saskatchewan Power Corporation’s offices, at the Canada Energy Regulator library in Calgary, and on the regulator’s website.
• Key deadlines: submissions due January 13, 2020; any responses to submissions due January 28, 2020.

Who's affected#

• Saskatchewan Power Corporation (the applicant) and its partners in cross‑border arrangements.
• Operators of the Saskatchewan high‑voltage transmission lines and the U.S. transmission systems directly connected to them (for example, Southwest Power Pool, Inc.).
• Electricity market participants who buy or sell power in Saskatchewan or neighbouring provinces.
• Members of the public and organizations that want to comment — the Commission specifically wants views on effects outside Saskatchewan and on whether Canadian buyers were given a fair chance to buy the power.
• If it’s unclear who else might be affected, people can review the full application (on the regulator’s website) or submit comments by the deadlines above.

Why it matters#

• Allowing emergency exports can help manage short-term grid problems or market needs, but it can also affect how much power is available in Saskatchewan and nearby provinces during tight conditions.
• The Commission is asking whether these exports could harm electricity supply or buyers in other provinces, or whether Canadian buyers were offered the same chances to purchase the power.
• For customers and local communities, this could influence reliability and prices during emergencies. For grid operators, it affects cross‑border coordination and settlement arrangements.