January 12, 2026 Calgary, Alberta Natural Resources Canada
Investing in our energy future is not just an opportunity for Canadian leadership - it is the greatest commercial opportunity of our time. As global markets and trade shift rapidly and the world moves toward diverse, lower-carbon sources of energy, Canada's energy grid investments must keep pace to ensure energy security and affordability for Canadians and to secure the reliability we need to support a prosperous, growing economy - including during peak demand periods, like the winter months.
Today, Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced nearly $3 million in funding through the Energy Innovation Program's Smart Grids Regulatory Innovation Capacity Building Call for Proposals to support four Alberta projects that will enhance grid reliability and resiliency in the province. This funding includes:
- $1.5 million to ENMAX to develop a roadmap for regulatory and technical changes and to explore innovative approaches to help modernize Alberta's grid;
- $532,770 to EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. to study the feasibility of different advanced-rate structures and how they can help guide lower electricity costs;
- $500,000 to the Transition Accelerator to enable the deployment of thermal energy networks - systems that use piping infrastructure to share heating and cooling between buildings - which can leverage multiple local clean heat sources while lowering costs to consumers and reducing peak electricity demand; and
- $250,000 to the Alberta Energy Efficiency Alliance to support the development of a regulatory framework for demand-side management in Alberta to help consumers make better use of smart grid technology.
These projects will not only contribute to enhancing grid reliability during heavy load times like winter but also support Canada and Alberta's long-term energy security and affordability and economic strength. By investing in our people, technologies and natural resources, we can strengthen our economy today, build resilience for the future and reinforce Canada's position as an energy superpower.
