Centre Lane Trading electricity export

Summary#

An application from Centre Lane Trading Limited asks the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator for permission to export up to 8,760 GWh of electricity a year to the United States for 10 years. The application was filed on January 13, 2020 and the Commission is asking for public comments before it decides whether to issue a permit or move the file to a licensing process.

What it does#

• Seeks authorization under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act to export electricity to the United States: up to 8,760 GWh per year, combining firm and interruptible supply, for 10 years.
• Makes the application available for public inspection (at the applicant’s Toronto office, the Canada Energy Regulator library in Calgary, and on the regulator’s website).
• Invites written submissions to be filed and served on the applicant by February 25, 2020, and allows the applicant to answer those submissions by March 12, 2020.
• Asks commenters to address two specific points (from the law): the likely effect of the export on provinces other than the one the power would come from; and whether Canadian buyers who said they wanted electricity were informed of what’s available and given a fair chance to buy it.

Who's affected#

• Centre Lane Trading Limited (the company applying).
• Electricity traders and exporters who follow cross-border contracts and permits.
• Canadian electricity buyers, utilities, or large consumers who may have declared interest in buying power for use in Canada.
• Provincial governments and regulators, since the Commission specifically asks about effects on provinces other than the source province.
• General electricity consumers could be indirectly affected if exports change local supply or prices. The application itself does not say which province the power would be exported from; that detail is in the full application.

Why it matters#

• 8,760 GWh a year is a large volume of electricity. Exports at that scale can influence local supply, market prices, and grid planning in the province where the power leaves Canada.
• The Commission’s questions aim to protect Canadian buyers and provincial interests by checking whether domestic needs and fair access were considered.
• The public comment dates (February 25, 2020 and March 12, 2020) set the window when stakeholders can raise concerns that the Commission must consider before it decides.