More than just running oil and gas, Saskatchewan’s energy sector runs several laws and rules. As with any other province in Canada, these rules are implemented by a network of provincial and federal bodies, collectively known as Saskatchewan’s energy regulators.
In this article, we will discuss who these energy regulators are and what their roles are when it comes to regulating the energy sector in the province. For more details about these regulators, you can also consult with a Lexpert-ranked energy lawyer.
Who regulates electricity in Saskatchewan?
The system that regulates the energy sector in Saskatchewan is two-fold:
- the province is Canada’s second-largest crude oil producer and a major natural gas market, which is regulated provincially
- however, its electricity sector operates through Crown corporations, rather than an independent utilities commission
That makes the regulatory picture here unlike almost anywhere else in the country.
Also, Saskatchewan does not have a single independent provincial energy regulator in the way that Alberta has the Alberta Utilities Commission, or Ontario has the Ontario Energy Board. Instead, Saskatchewan energy regulators are split between the following:
- Ministry of Energy and Resources: Saskatchewan’s energy regulator involved in the provincial upstream regulation, Crown royalties, licensing, and compliance for oil, gas, and pipelines within the province
- SaskPower: a Crown corporation that is responsible for electricity generation and distribution, whose rates are reviewed by the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel (SRRP)
- SaskEnergy: another Crown corporation that is tasked in overseeing the province’s natural gas distribution, in contrast with SaskPower; still, its rates are reviewed by the SRRP
- Canada Energy Regulator (CER): the federal energy regulator, which is tasked with the oversight of interprovincial and international pipelines, power lines, and energy trade
We will discuss these regulators below.
Ministry of Energy and Resources
The Ministry of Energy and Resources is the provincial government body responsible for the following:
- developing and implementing policies across Saskatchewan’s natural resource industries, including oil, gas, helium, and renewables
- administers Crown royalties, drilling incentives, and licensing requirements for upstream producers
On the regulatory side, the Ministry runs the Integrated Resource Information System (IRIS). Through the IRIS, operators and licensees can submit several data and complete mandatory compliance reporting. For disputes between landowners and oil, gas, or potash operators that parties cannot resolve directly, the Ministry also maintains the Surface Rights Board as a last-resort arbitration mechanism.
Check out this recent news on how the Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Energy and Resources drives in leading the province’s energy sector:
Need help in dealing with any of Saskatchewan’s energy regulators? Reach out to any of the best energy lawyers for electricity in Canada as ranked by Lexpert.
Ministry’s incentive programs
The ministry also administers incentive programs aimed at sustaining investment in the province’s oil and gas sector, such as these two examples:
- Oil Infrastructure Investment Program: offers transferable Crown royalty credits at 20% of eligible project costs for qualifying pipeline infrastructure
- Oil and Gas Processing Investment Incentive: applies the same credit rate, but for upstream processing and upgrading facilities
SaskPower
SaskPower is the provincial Crown corporation responsible for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity to more than 590,000 customers across Saskatchewan. As a Crown corporation, it does not operate under an independent regulator; instead, any request for a rate increase goes through the process handled by the SRRP, with the final decision resting with the provincial Cabinet.
SaskPower’s energy generation
SaskPower currently generates approximately 5,400 megawatts of electricity. Roughly 65% of that capacity comes from fossil fuel sources, principally natural gas and coal, with the remainder from non-emitting sources including wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.
On the renewables side, SaskPower has committed to adding 3,000 MW of wind and solar capacity by 2035 as part of its pathway to the longer-term 2050 goal.
SaskPower has also filed an application with the CER for two international 230-kilovolt power lines running from a switching station near Estevan to the Saskatchewan–North Dakota border. This application is an illustration of how provincial and federal jurisdictions interact: since the lines cross an international boundary, it is the CER who has approval authority, and not the provincial government.
Check out this video on how SaskPower is also involved in the province’s transition to using clean energy:
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The Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel (SRRP)
The SRRP is the body that reviews rate applications from these three bodies:
- SaskPower
- SaskEnergy
- Saskatchewan Auto Fund
It operates under the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC) and provides recommendations to the provincial Cabinet. However, it is the Cabinet which makes the final determination on any rate change, as the SRRP cannot issue binding decisions.
Here’s an overview of this process undertaken by the SRRP when SaskPower or SaskEnergy wants to raise rates:
- the Minister of the CIC directs the SRRP to undertake a review
- this review may involve independent technical studies, public consultations, and written submissions from several parties
- the panel then reports its recommendations publicly and to the Minister responsible
SaskEnergy
SaskEnergy is the Crown corporation responsible for delivering and selling natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the province. It is also a subsidiary of the CIC, and, like SaskPower, does not operate under an independent provincial regulator. As such, its rate changes also go through the same SRRP process.
In 2024–25, SaskEnergy invested $171 million in system expansion and reliability work, completing projects tied to enhanced oil recovery, potash production, and power generation. This puts the delivery rates for residential customers in Saskatchewan as among the lowest in Canada, according to the SaskEnergy’s most recent annual report.
Canada Energy Regulator (CER)
The Canada Energy Regulator (CER), established under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act) in 2019, oversees interprovincial and international energy infrastructure across Canada. In Saskatchewan, its jurisdiction covers the following:
- pipelines that cross provincial or international boundaries
- international power lines
- energy exports and imports
However, intra-provincial pipelines are regulated by the province’s Ministry of Energy and Resources, especially those that remain entirely within Saskatchewan. For energy projects that are large enough to qualify as “designated projects” under the Impact Assessment Act, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada conducts environmental assessments in coordination with the CER.
How can lawyers help clients deal with these energy regulators?
Below are some of the ways that energy lawyers can help clients, especially proponents and operators of energy projects, in dealing with Saskatchewan’s energy regulators:
Jurisdictions of different regulators
In practice, there would be tensions between the federal and provincial energy regulators on several matters. With several energy projects crossing the borders right now, it would be very difficult to distinguish between these conflicting regulatory bodies. As such, energy lawyers in Saskatchewan can help clients figure out which regulator has jurisdiction over their situation in the first place.
Rate disputes and regulatory hearings
When SaskPower or SaskEnergy applies to raise rates, the SRRP opens a public review process that allows businesses, municipalities, and individuals to make submissions. An energy lawyer can help clients prepare those submissions, present evidence, and make the strongest possible case to the panel before it sends its recommendations to Cabinet.
Oil, gas, and pipeline licensing
Producers and operators in Saskatchewan must meet the provincial Ministry of Energy and Resources’ regulatory requirements through the IRIS, including well licensing, incident reporting, and royalty compliance. For this, an energy lawyer who knows the Ministry’s processes can help clients:
- avoid non-compliance penalties
- apply for available drilling incentives
- respond to audits under programs
Land and surface rights
Saskatchewan has a Surface Rights Board that steps in when a landowner and an oil, gas, or potash operator cannot agree on access or compensation. Energy lawyers can represent either side in those proceedings, but they can also help clients negotiate agreements before a dispute ever gets to the Board, which is almost always faster and cheaper.
Federal approvals and major projects
For larger projects that require approval from the CER, such as interprovincial pipelines or international power lines, the process would typically involve:
- environmental reviews
- Indigenous consultation requirements
- other mandatory public participations
Admittedly, these steps can run for months or even years. Legal counsel can then help clients build a complete application, respond to interveners, and manage the timeline, so that regulatory delays do not blow out a project’s budget.
Saskatchewan energy regulators: Who’s who at what
Saskatchewan’s energy regulators cover a wide range of activities, from setting electricity rates to approving cross-border pipelines. However, knowing which body handles your concern, and at which level of government, is not always straightforward.
The good news is that you do not have to sort it out on your own. A Lexpert-ranked energy lawyer in Saskatchewan can help you identify the right regulator for your situation, understand your rights, and navigate the process from start to finish.
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