Manitoba: Clean electricity snapshot

Overview of electricity in Manitoba

Manitoba produces the majority of its electricity through low-emitting hydroelectric dams. In fact, Manitoba produces so much electricity that it exports surplus electricity to the United States, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. The province stopped using coal-fired electricity in 2018.

A clean electricity grid can have several benefits

In addition to cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, a clean electricity grid can provide several benefits:

• Independent experts from Clean Energy Canada (PDF) forecast that Manitoba will see 99,100 clean energy jobs added between 2025 and 2050^{Footnote 1} , providing both economic growth and new job opportunities as the provinces moves towards a net-zero economy.
• Climate Action Manitoba found that the rates for natural gas, which is imported from Alberta, have tripled from $7.62 to $19.77 over the last four years. Electricity prices produced by Manitoba hydro have stayed largely stable and affordable in the same time period ($8.08 in June 2019 to $9.20 in January 2022).
• Geothermal heat pumps use underground pipes to heat and cool your home and are cost-effective and sustainable.
• Geothermal heat pump systems reduce a home’s annual heating energy use by 50-70 per cent and domestic water heating costs by 20 per cent.

Electricity generated

As of 2022, Manitoba had 258.5 megawatts (MW) of wind and 6 MW of solar installed on its grid.

Economic opportunities and key projects

Following the historic investments made in Budget 2023, the Government of Canada has now committed over $40 billion to support the clean electricity sector, including with below-market financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, grants and contributions such as the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program, and a new Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit. These investments being made alongside the Clean Electricity Regulations will help drive significant economic opportunities in the province through the construction of new power sources and retrofitting of existing plants.

Manitoba Hydro sells its surplus of hydroelectricity to companies in the United States, like the Basin Electric Power Cooperative and the Dairyland Power Cooperative. It also sells surplus electricity to Great River Energy of Minnesota, the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, Minnesota Power, Northern States Power, SaskPower, and Wisconsin Public Service.

From 2010 to 2019, Manitoba Power generated $3.9 billion in revenue from selling its electricity.

Keeping electricity affordable

The Government of Canada is supporting households with their energy switching, through home retrofit programs, zero-emission vehicles purchase incentives and more, to help Canadians save on their energy bills.

$40 billion in new Government of Canada measures to meet the growing demand for electricity can minimize future cost impacts being passed down to Manitobans.

Manitobans that make the switch to a heat pump or an electric/hybrid vehicle come out even further ahead since they will pay less in pollution pricing but still receive the full Climate Action Incentive Payment to help with their energy bills.

Manitoba Hydro offers the Home Energy Efficiency Loan to help make your home more energy efficient. You can finance up to $7,500 per residence for almost all energy upgrades.

Solar panels can be installed on the ground or on the roofs of houses and businesses. If your solar panels produce more electricity than you use, they can be sold back to Manitoba Hydro.

Efficiency Manitoba offers up to $5,000 in rebates for solar panels for homes and up to $25,000 for businesses.

Recent announcements

In April 2022, $300 million of federal clean energy funding was directed to the Wah-ila-toos partnership for clean energy projects in Indigenous, rural and remote communities in Canada.

In July 2022, the Government of Canada announced $3.95 million in funding for Shell Canada to install 79 Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers across 37 Shell retail locations along critical corridors between Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

The Government of Canada has announced an investment of $160,200 for the Manitoba government to help create more energy efficient buildings in Winnipeg.