Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault released draft regulations Thursday that are designed to clean Canada's electricity grid in an affordable way by 2035.
The regulations would drive up the cost of energy slightly, but federal officials say that would be offset by the savings expected to come from moving away from fossil fuels.
Switching to clean electricity will save Canadians money.
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Our research shows that Canadians will spend 12% less (on avg) on energy by 2050 than they do today when they switch off fossil fuels to power their homes, vehicles and businesses with clean electricity. Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/6oDYWWRgHt
The government has set a target of making the electricity grid net-zero by 2035, and the regulations are meant to help guide the way.
Environment and Climate Change Canada estimates the national average household energy bill will increase by $35 to $61 per year if the regulations are adopted, but by 2040, only two per cent of that increase will come as a result of the regulations.
The government plans to cover up to half of the cost of the regulations through tax credits, low-cost financing and other funds, which could mean even less cost is passed onto consumers, Guilbeault said at a press conference in Toronto.
The minister also said he expects increases to be offset as people move away from fossil fuels to heat their homes, cook food or power vehicles.
Overall, Canadians are expected to spend 12 per cent less on energy by 2050, government estimates show.
"Shifting to clean electricity saves households on their energy bills, away from the shocks of yo-yoing gas and oil prices," Guilbeault said.
Electricity infrastructure expenses are expected increase significantly over the next several decades as maintenance and increased demand is estimated to cost $400 billion by 2050.
The country's grid is already nearly 85 per cent clean, but demand is expected to double by 2050 as things like cars, buses and trains become electric.
"Why not make sure that this build-out is clean and affordable?" the minister posited.
The government expects the draft regulations would decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 342 million tonnes between 2024 and 2050.
The ministry has been seeking feedback on the regulatory framework for nearly a year and will consult on the draft regulations for 75 days, with a final version expected to be published in January 2025.
They won't come into effect until 2035, but given the long lead time needed to build new electricity infrastructure Guilbeault said the government wants to give the industry plenty of notice.
"One thing we've heard from investors, from energy companies, is: 'Tell us what the rules are, and we will comply with them,'" the minister said of the consultations so far.
"They want to know what the rules of the game will be, and that's exactly what we're doing. We're giving them a lot of time to prepare."
Guilbeault said the draft regulations are designed to be affordable and achievable with existing technology that is already being used across the country.
They are also intended to show some flexibility, he said, particularly for remote communities that aren't part of the power grid and will be exempt from the new rules.
Federal and provincial governments are working together on plans and projects to reduce and eliminate the dependence on fossil fuels in remote communities, he said.
"We understand we're not there yet, which is why we've decided to ensure that the regulations wouldn't apply to them," the minister said.
He would not say if they have a timeline in mind to make clean electricity more accessible to all those communities that will be exempt.
