Electricity export applications to U.S.

Summary#

Two companies have applied to the Canada Energy Regulator to export electricity from Canada to the United States. Portland General Electric Company asks to export up to 10,000,000 MWh per year for 10 years, and TEC Energy Inc. asks to export up to 8,760,000 MWh per year for 10 years, starting September 6, 2023. The regulator is asking for public comments before it decides.

What it does#

• Portland General Electric Company filed an application dated January 12, 2023 to export up to 10,000,000 MWh annually for 10 years.
• TEC Energy Inc. filed an application dated January 6, 2023 to export up to 8,760,000 MWh annually for 10 years, with that licence period proposed to begin September 6, 2023.
• Both applications are being considered under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act. The regulator is inviting public views before issuing permits or moving to a formal licensing process.
• The Commission specifically wants input on:
  • whether these exports would affect provinces other than the one the power is exported from; and
  • whether domestic buyers who had declared interest were told about the available electricity and given a fair chance to buy it.
• Deadlines for written submissions:
  • For Portland General Electric Company: submissions by February 21, 2023; replies by March 5, 2023.
  • For TEC Energy Inc.: submissions by February 22, 2023; replies by March 10, 2023.
• Applications are available on the CER website or by request to the applicants.

Who's affected#

• The applicants: Portland General Electric Company and TEC Energy Inc.
• Electricity market participants, including utilities and companies that buy and sell power across provinces and across the border.
• Provinces that could supply the exported power or that share electricity grids with those exporters.
• Any Canadian buyers who have declared interest in purchasing electricity domestically and who may have been offered (or not offered) the same terms.

It is not clear from the notice which Canadian province(s) the electricity would be exported from.

Why it matters#

• Large cross‑border electricity exports can influence how much power stays in local grids and who gets first access to available electricity.
• The public and provincial authorities get a chance to raise concerns about supply, price effects, and fairness to Canadian buyers before the regulator decides.
• If approved, these permits would shape trade in electricity between Canada and the United States for the next 10 years.