SaskPower seeks 3.9% rate increase
SaskPower is pursuing a 3.9% rate increase for both 2026 and 2027, a move that has drawn significant political scrutiny and opposition from the NDP. The NDP’s Bill 612 aimed to prevent this rate hike, but the Sask. Party majority blocked the motion for an immediate second reading.
As the province grapples with rising energy costs, the Saskatchewan Auto Fund is also set to implement a 3.75% rate increase in June, with a public meeting regarding this increase scheduled for March 26.
Aleana Young, a representative of the NDP, criticized the government, stating, “We see a government that is terrified to do anything to address the cost of living.” This sentiment reflects broader concerns about the affordability of energy in Saskatchewan.
In addition to the rate increase discussions, the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan has called for early engagement on SaskPower’s small modular reactor project, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous representation in decision-making processes. Marg Friesen, a spokesperson for the Métis Nation, remarked, “It’s important that Indigenous peoples are sitting at the table where decisions are being made.”
On the environmental front, SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Unit 3 has made strides in carbon capture, having captured 7,095,042 tonnes of CO2 over its first 11 years of operation. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, the unit captured 236,512 tonnes of CO2.
However, the carbon capture project has not been without its challenges. Litigation has arisen between SaskPower and SNC-Lavalin, the contractor responsible for the Boundary Dam Unit 3’s carbon capture project. Critics, including Peter Prebble from the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, have expressed concerns about the government’s direction on climate change, stating, “In terms of climate change, Saskatchewan’s taking a real irresponsible position.”
Minister Jeremy Harrison announced a provincial process for technology selection in late January, as SaskPower considers options such as the CANDU Monark and Westinghouse AP1000 for future reactors.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding when Bill 612 will return for a second reading or a vote, and no date has been announced for the Rate Review Panel meeting on SaskPower’s application. The ongoing discussions highlight the tension between energy policy, economic pressures, and environmental responsibilities in Saskatchewan.
