Manitoba Hydro electricity export application

Summary#

Manitoba Hydro has applied to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act to export a large amount of electricity to the United States. The company seeks permission to export up to 39,700,000 MWh per year for 10 years beginning November 1, 2025, and the CER is asking for public comments before deciding.

What it does#

• Requests authorization to export up to 39,700,000 MWh of combined firm and interruptible energy each year.
• Seeks that authority for a period of 10 years starting November 1, 2025.
• Notes the applicant (or its affiliates) holds interests in Canadian generation or transmission facilities (these are listed in an appendix to the application).
• The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator is asking for written views before it issues a permit or moves the case to a licensing process.
• The Commission specifically wants views on:
  • the possible effect of the export on provinces other than the one the power is exported from, and
  • whether the applicant has told those who declared an interest in buying electricity in Canada about quantities and terms, and given them a fair chance to buy.
• Practical filing and contact details (how to get the application or send comments) are provided by the CER and the applicant in the notice.

Who's affected#

• Manitoba Hydro (the applicant) and its affiliates.
• Provinces other than the exporting province that might be affected by large exports.
• Canadian buyers who have declared interest in buying electricity for use in Canada.
• Electricity market participants: generators, transmission operators and utilities who monitor cross‑border flows.
• Buyers across the border in the United States could be the purchasers of the exported power (the notice is about the export itself; the CER is focused on Canadian impacts).

Why it matters#

• Approving large, long‑term electricity exports can change how much power stays in Canada and may influence provincial markets and availability.
• The Commission is asking whether Canadian buyers were given a fair chance to buy before power is sold abroad. That question affects local access to supply and pricing.
• This is an application, not a final decision. The CER is collecting input before it permits or advances the file to a licensing stage.

Key deadlines mentioned in the notice: written submissions by September 27, 2024, and any answers from the applicant by October 14, 2024.