Electricity

Clean electricity is the foundation of our future economy 

A reliable, affordable supply of clean electricity will be the powerhouse that drives Canada’s economy forward over the next several decades. As more everyday energy uses begin to be powered efficiently by electricity instead of fossil fuels, we urgently need our electricity production and supply to be as low-carbon and low-cost as possible.

To make this a reality, we need more provinces to be attracting investment from renewable energy developers — and we also need to improve the efficiency and resilience of Canada's overall electricity system by building more transmission infrastructure, for example. This takes time, resources and knowledge.

How do we do this?  

We engage with federal and provincial governments, electricity system operators, utilities, and other industry groups to reimagine the generation, supply and regulation of electricity in Canada.

The shift to a net-zero grid requires modernizing the way electricity is generated, transmitted and used. If we get it right, the benefits will include:      

• improved reliability, affordability and security of the electricity system,
• a grid with greater resilience against extreme weather events, and
• drastically reduced emissions.

We encourage provinces and territories to achieve all these goals by incorporating a substantial percentage of wind, solar and battery storage into their electricity generation mix, alongside other generation types like hydro and existing nuclear. Renewables are the most affordable form of new electricity generation: in the last 15 years, solar costs have plunged 88 per cent, wind has dropped 74 per cent, and battery storage has fallen 90 per cent.

Federal and provincial governments have many tools at their disposal to accelerate the transition to a modernized grid. This includes:

• economic policies, such as carbon pricing and tax credits
• competitive procurements for clean energy
• investments in grid infrastructure, innovative technologies and smarter use of energy by consumers
• flexible regulatory tools like the Clean Electricity Regulations and coal phase-out regulations.

We encourage provinces and territories to create electricity generation and emissions reductions plans that deliver economic prosperity by building a low-carbon, affordable, reliable and resilient electricity supply. Our research, analysis and advice helps governments make smart decisions.
 

Our work has seen a rapid acceleration in the phase-out of coal across Canada. For example, Alberta switched off its last operational coal-fired plant in 2024, decades ahead of its original 2061 target date. This is a positive example of how well-designed policies and strategic regulations can propel a province towards change. 

Elsewhere in Canada there is still work to be done. To push coal-reliant provinces towards phaseout, our work continues to advise on low- and non-emitting sources of electricity. This is key for Canada to continue to make strides towards net-zero.