Manitoba Hydro U.S. Electricity Export Request

Summary#

Manitoba Hydro has applied to the Canada Energy Regulator for permission to export up to 39 700 000 MWh of electricity each year to the United States. The request covers a period of 10 years beginning November 1, 2025, and the regulator is asking the public and interested parties for their views before deciding.

What it does#

• Asks the regulator for authorization under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act to export up to 39 700 000 MWh annually to the United States for 10 years starting November 1, 2025.
• Notes that the applicant, Manitoba Hydro, or its affiliates own or have interests in generation or transmission facilities in Canada (these are listed in an appendix to the application).
• The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator is seeking written views before it issues a permit or moves the application to a licensing process.
• Anyone can request a copy of the application by emailing aupenner@hydro.mb.ca. The application is also on the CER website.
• Written submissions must be filed with the CER and emailed to the applicant by 27 September 2024. Responses from the applicant to certain issues must be filed by 14 October 2024.
• The Commission is specifically asking for views on:
  • How the exports might affect provinces other than the one the electricity comes from.
  • Whether domestic buyers who declared an interest were properly informed and given a fair chance to buy the electricity.

Who's affected#

• Manitoba Hydro (the company making the application).
• Electricity buyers and market participants in Canada who might want to buy the electricity that could otherwise be exported.
• Provinces other than the exporting province, since the Commission is asking about cross‑provincial effects.
• U.S. buyers who would receive the exported electricity.
• It is not stated which specific Canadian customers or regions would be directly affected; that will depend on the outcome of the regulator’s review.

Why it matters#

• The decision could influence how much power stays in Canada versus how much is sold abroad for the next decade.
• It may affect choices available to Canadian buyers who have said they want to buy electricity for use in Canada. The regulator will examine whether those buyers were given a fair chance.
• The public has a short window to comment: submissions are due 27 September 2024, so interested people or organizations should act quickly if they want their views considered.