Powell River Energy Inc. - Application for a 30-year Contract-Specific Electricity Export Permit

Project Background

On 15 August 2025, Powell River Energy Inc. (PREI) applied for a 30-year contract-specific electricity export permit (Application). PREI operates a hydroelectric dam at Powell Lake, as well as the Lois Lake facilities in Powell River, British Columbia. The combined rated capacity of the power facilities is approximately 85 megawatts.

These facilities are jointly regulated by the province of British Columbia.

PREI entered into an agreement with BR Pacific Hydro Power LLC (BR Pacific) to export all the electricity generated at the two power facilities. BR Pacific is an affiliate of PREI located in the United States.

Public Comment Period

On 27 August 2025, PREI filed Notice of the Application, inviting interested parties to file written comments on the Application. On 23 September 2025, the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator accepted written submissions until 9 October 2025.

As of 13 November, over 2600 written submissions were received. The Commission decided not to accept any further late filings past that date.

Designation for a Licence

Under the CER Act, when someone applies for authorization to export electricity, the Commission must either issue an electricity export permit without holding a public hearing, or recommend that the application be designated for a licensing process. Typically, export decisions are made through a written process that doesn’t include a public hearing. When considering whether recommending to the Governor In Council (GIC) that an application be designated, the criteria the Commission must consider:

• The effect of the exportation of electricity on other provinces;
• Fair Market Access:
• whether the company has informed interested buyers of electricity for consumption in Canada of the quantities and classes of service available for sale, and
• given an opportunity for interested buyers to demonstrate an intention to buy the electricity for consumption in Canada where they can make an offer with conditions as favourable as those given to the export company buying the electricity (within a reasonable time after being so informed).

On 18 December 2025, the Commission made the recommendation to the Minister that this matter be designated.

Should the project be designated, the Commission will decide next steps for its review process.

Timeline and Documents