Heartland Generation Electricity Export Application

Summary#

Heartland Generation Ltd. has applied to the Canada Energy Regulator to export up to 10,000,000 MW.h of electricity each year for 10 years. The regulator is asking for public comments before it decides and set deadlines for submissions (20 September 2021) and for any answers from the applicant (5 October 2021).

What it does#

• Seeks permission to export a combined total of up to 10,000,000 MW.h annually of firm and interruptible electricity for a period of 10 years.
• Says the applicant, or its affiliates — including Alberta Power (2000) Ltd., Calpine Corporation, and Convergent Energy & Power Inc. — has interests in a number of Canadian power plants. Those facilities include gas cogeneration, simple‑cycle gas, dual‑fuel plants, and battery storage located in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.
• As part of its review, the Canada Energy Regulator is specifically asking for views on:
  • the possible effect of the exports on provinces other than the one the electricity comes from, and
  • whether the applicant has properly informed and offered Canadian buyers an opportunity to buy the electricity on terms as good as those in the application.
• The application is public on the CER website. A copy can also be requested by email from the applicant at shanelle.sinclair@heartlandgeneration.com. Written comments must be filed with the CER by 20 September 2021, and any reply from the applicant to those comments must be filed by 5 October 2021.

Who's affected#

• Energy companies, traders, and utilities that buy, sell or transport electricity across the Canada–U.S. border.
• Provincial governments and grid operators in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and other provinces that might be affected by cross‑border exports.
• Any organizations or businesses that have declared an interest in buying electricity for use in Canada.
• It is not clear from the notice whether specific local communities or Indigenous groups are directly affected.

Why it matters#

• If approved, the permit would allow a large volume of Canadian‑generated electricity to be sold to the United States for up to a decade.
• That could influence how much electricity is available to Canadian buyers and how companies compete to buy or sell power across provinces and the border.
• The regulator’s request for input gives affected parties a chance to raise concerns about provincial impacts or whether Canadian buyers were given a fair chance to purchase the power.