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Ottawa launches Round 2 of public engagements for Clean Electricity Regulations

July 28, 2022 – Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, announced the publication of the proposed framework for Clean Electricity Regulations (formerly known as Clean Electricity Standard)—the second engagement document that will guide the development of these regulations in Canada.

Open image in new tab/window to view full size. Diagram shows Ottawa’s vision of “cleaner electricity and a cleaner future, with an ample supply of clean electricity, upgraded transmission and storage, and electrification and energy efficiency in all sectors”. Photo: Government of Canada.

Canada’s CER is being developed around three core principles:

1. Maximize GHG reductions to achieve net zero emissions from the electricity grid by 2035.
2. Ensure grid reliability “to support a strong economy and guarantee Canadians’ safety by having access to secure energy that supports their cooling needs in the summer and warmth in the winter”.
3. Maintain electricity affordability for homeowners and businesses.

Under the proposed framework, energy efficiency is expected to play a critical role in managing demand.

The regulations aim to help provide long-term regulatory certainty while encouraging the increased deployment of non-emitting electricity options, such as wind, solar, and small modular reactors (SMRs).

It will also encourage the use of interties from provinces and territories with an abundance of hydroelectric power; incentivize increased use of hydrogen, battery storage, and carbon capture and storage; and help set the stage for increased use of demand-side management and distributed energy in Canada.

You are invited to submit comments on the proposed framework for the Clean Electricity Regulations, but you don’t have much time. The deadline is August 17, 2022. Email ECD-DEC@ec.gc.ca.

To achieve net zero emissions economy-wide by 2050, The ministry says Canada’s economy will need to be powered by both clean electricity and low-carbon fuels (e.g. hydrogen, advanced biofuels, liquid synthetic fuels, renewable natural gas).