Basin Electric electricity export request

Summary#

The Canada Energy Regulator published a notice that Basin Electric Power Cooperative applied on 29 April 2025 for permission to export up to 75 000 MWh of electricity to the United States each year for 10 years. The regulator is asking for public comments before it decides whether to issue a permit or move the application to a licensing procedure; written comments are due by 9 June 2025.

What it does#

• The application, filed under Division 2 of Part 7 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, asks to export up to 75 000 MWh (combined firm and interruptible) per year for 10 years.
• The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator is seeking views on:
  • the effect of this export on provinces other than the one supplying the electricity, and
  • whether the applicant has told Canadian buyers who expressed interest about the available quantities and given them a fair chance to buy on the same terms.
• Key deadlines:
  • Written submissions: by 9 June 2025.
  • Applicant’s answers to submissions (where applicable): by 24 June 2025.
• The application is publicly available on the CER website and can be requested by email from the applicant.

Who's affected#

• Basin Electric Power Cooperative — the company that filed the application.
• Electricity buyers and utilities in Canada who have declared interest in buying electricity for consumption in Canada.
• Provincial electricity markets and grid operators in the province(s) where the electricity would be sourced. The notice does not say which province the exports would originate from, so it’s unclear exactly which provinces will be affected.
• People and businesses that could notice changes in supply, local market competition, or transmission use if the export is approved.

Why it matters#

• Approving the export would allow up to 75 000 MWh per year to flow from Canada to the United States for 10 years, which could influence local supply and market conditions where the electricity is taken from.
• The public comment step gives local utilities, regulators, and members of the public a chance to raise concerns about impacts on price, reliability, or fairness before the regulator decides.
• Because the notice does not specify the source province, stakeholders in several regions may want to check the application on the CER website or submit comments to make sure their interests are considered.