Project Spotlight 

Maritime Provinces Electricity Transmission Interconnections 

The three Maritime provinces, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, are coordinating to strengthen electricity transmission infrastructure across the region. On 23 July 2026, the three provinces signed a memorandum of understanding committing to develop a regional transmission road map by spring 2027 and to consider creating an independent electricity system operator. 

The most advanced project in the portfolio is the Prince Edward Island-New Brunswick Interconnection Expansion Project, which received C$5.9 million in federal funding on 23 July 2026 for engineering studies, marine surveys, and preliminary design, with construction targeted from 2028. The project was identified by the federal government as one of five priority transmission projects at the Energy and Mines Ministers' Meeting in June 2026, and is aligned with the Transmission InterConnect Investment Strategy, which was referred to the Major Projects Office on 14 May 2026. 

Source: CBC News; CBC News; Government of Canada

Overview 

The Maritime provinces operate interconnected but capacity-constrained electricity systems. The coordinated programme addresses coal generation retirement, with a federal regulation requiring phase-out of unabated coal-fired electricity by 31 December 2029, integration of renewable energy sources, and enhanced grid reliability. Prince Edward Island imports approximately 85 per cent of its electricity from New Brunswick through existing submarine links. 

The programme falls under the federal Transmission InterConnect Investment Strategy and the broader Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy announced on 14 May 2026. 

Source: Major Projects Office; btw.media 

Key Facts

Development

PEI-New Brunswick Interconnection Expansion Project. This is the most clearly defined component of the programme. PEI Energy Corporation will use the C$5.9 million federal investment for engineering studies, marine surveys, environmental assessments, stakeholder and Indigenous engagement, regulatory work, and preliminary design for the cable route, transmission lines, and substations. 

The project comprises two 200 MW, 138 kV submarine power cables between PEI and New Brunswick, together with transmission upgrades and substation modernisation in both provinces. The two cables would add 400 MW of transfer capacity, roughly matching PEI's current peak demand of 393 MW, recorded in February 2023. 

PEI currently has four submarine cables connecting it to New Brunswick: two legacy 100 MW cables installed in the late 1970s, running from Murray Corner, New Brunswick, to Richmond Cove, PEI, and two 180 MW cables completed in 2017, running from Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick, to Borden-Carleton, PEI. The combined physical capacity is 560 MW, although the practical import limit is approximately 300 MW owing to congestion on the New Brunswick transmission system in the south-eastern region. 

Source: Government of Canada announcement, 23 July 2026; btw.media; Atlantica Centre for Energy; Maritime Electric

Broader Maritime Transmission Coordination. The memorandum of understanding signed on 23 July 2026 commits the three provinces to the following. 

• Develop a regional road map for electricity transmission by spring 2027
• Consider creating an independent electricity system operator for the Maritimes
• Coordinate on energy projects to support affordability and grid reliability
  

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt described the province as the “energy hub” for the Maritimes, given its central location between Quebec, PEI, and Nova Scotia. Prime Minister Carney stated that "Lower energy costs, greater energy security, fewer emissions — building a strong, connected grid is how we will achieve all of those objectives at once," and the investment supports the government's broader goal, set out in Powering Canada Strong, of doubling the capacity of Canada's electricity network by 2050.

Source: Government of New Brunswick, Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Regional Electricity Cooperation and System Integration; CBC News; Pipeline Online

Development Stage (September 2026)

Status: Pre-construction studies underway for the PEI-NB Interconnection Expansion; broader portfolio in early planning.

• Maritime memorandum of understanding signed 23 July 2026 by Premiers Holt, Houston, and Lantz
• C$5.9 million in federal funding announced for PEI-NB interconnection studies
• PEI-NB Interconnection Expansion identified as one of five federal priority transmission projects at the June 2026 Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference
• Regional transmission road map due spring 2027
• PEI-NB construction targeted to begin in 2028

Timeline

Source: Major Projects Office; Government of Canada announcement 

Cost Summary

The full project cost, final route, and construction financing for the PEI-NB Interconnection Expansion have not been disclosed. The C$5.9 million federal investment covers pre-construction studies only.

Source: Government of Canada announcement 

Regulatory Framework

The three Maritime provinces each have separate utility regulatory bodies. 

New Brunswick: The New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board (NBEUB) regulates NB Power, a provincial Crown corporation. 
Nova Scotia: The Nova Scotia Energy Board, established on 1 April 2025 as a division of the Nova Scotia Energy and Regulatory Boards Tribunal, succeeding the former Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, regulates Nova Scotia Power. 
Prince Edward Island: The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) regulates Maritime Electric under the Electric Power Act and the Renewable Energy Act. 

At the federal level, the Transmission InterConnect Investment Strategy, referred to the Major Projects Office on 14 May 2026, provides the framework for identifying and financing priority interprovincial transmission projects. The Canada Infrastructure Bank has a clean energy investment target of at least C$20 billion. 

Source: NSEB transition notice; NB Power; Maritime Electric; Major Projects Office; Government of Canada

Provincial Utilities 

NB Power is a Crown corporation and the primary electric utility in New Brunswick. Smart meters have been deployed to approximately 369,000 customers. The debt-to-equity ratio improved from 92.4 per cent to 92.3 per cent in 2025/26. NB Power is regulated by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board. 

Nova Scotia Power is a regulated subsidiary of Emera Incorporated (TSX/NYSE: EMA), serving approximately 540,000 customers and providing approximately 95 per cent of Nova Scotia's generation, transmission, and distribution services. Emera has a market capitalisation of approximately CAD $21 billion as of September 2026, and serves 2.1 million customers across its Canadian, United States, and Caribbean portfolio. 

Maritime Electric is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc. (TSX: FTS), serving over 87,000 customers on Prince Edward Island. Maritime Electric owns and operates an integrated generation, transmission, and distribution system. The City of Summerside operates a separate municipal utility serving its residents.

Indigenous Consultation and Participation

Mi'kmaq Nation territory encompasses Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, portions of New Brunswick, and parts of Newfoundland and the Gaspé Peninsula. Consultation is required across all transmission projects in the three provinces. Key representative bodies include the following.

• The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs, an unincorporated association of 13 Mi'kmaw Chiefs, supported by the Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office, also known as the Mi'kmaq Rights Initiative
• The Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI
• Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick

Wolastoqey (Maliseet) Nation territory in New Brunswick requires consultation for transmission projects crossing traditional lands. The six Wolastoqey communities in New Brunswick are Matawaskiye (Madawaska), Neqotkuk (Tobique), Bilijk (Kingsclear), Sitansisk (St. Mary's), Welamukotuk (Oromocto), and Wotstak (Woodstock). The Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick, formed in 2017, provides technical support and advice to these communities on matters relating to Wolastoqey constitutionally protected Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.

Source: Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn; Government of Nova Scotia; Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick; Government of Canada announcement

Technical Specifications

 PEI-NB Interconnection Expansion

• Cable type: Submarine power cable

• Voltage: 138 kV

• Capacity: Two cables at 200 MW each (400 MW total) 
  

• Supporting infrastructure: Transmission line upgrades and substation modernisation in both PEI and New Brunswick 
  

• Proponent: PEI Energy Corporation

Source: Government of Canada announcement

Resources

• Major Projects Office, Transmission InterConnect Investment Strategy

• Prime Minister of Canada, National Electricity Strategy announcement, 14 May 2026

• Government of Canada, NRCan, PEI-NB Interconnection Expansion announcement, 23 July 2026

• Natural Resources Canada, grid and energy announcement, 26 June 2026

• CBC News, Maritime MOU and PEI cables, 23 July 2026

• CBC News, Maritime provinces energy MOU, 23 July 2026

• Government of New Brunswick, Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Regional Electricity Cooperation and System Integration

• btw.media, PEI power cables, July 2026

• NB Power 2025/26 Annual Report

• Emera Investor Relations

• Emera, Nova Scotia Power

• Maritime Electric, corporate profile

• Maritime Electric, interconnection upgrade project

• Fortis Inc., Our Companies

• Atlantica Centre for Energy, PEI energy resources

• Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn (Mi'kmaq Rights Initiative)

• Government of Nova Scotia, Aboriginal People

• Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick

• Nova Scotia Energy and Regulatory Boards Tribunal, transition notice, 1 April 2025

• Emera Newfoundland and Labrador, Maritime Link overview

• Canada Energy Regulator, Provincial energy profile, Prince Edward Island

• Canada Energy Regulator, Provincial energy profile, New Brunswick