Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan ranked 9th in Canada’s first Provincial Energy Efficiency Scorecard, earning 18 points out of 100.
Energy Efficiency Programs See All 
Energy efficiency programs secure energy savings through various strategies such as audits, retrofits, training for building tradespeople, “people-centred” or behavioural efficiency strategies, and customized industrial programs.
Energy Efficiency Program Administration
Electricity efficiency programs are administered by SaskPower, while natural gas programs are administed by SaskEnergy. Both are provincially-owned utilities.
Last reviewed: October 2020
Energy Efficiency Targets
SaskEnergy has internal targets.
Last reviewed: August 2020
Energy Efficiency as a Resource
There is no provincial mandate to pursue energy efficiency in Saskatchewan.
Last reviewed: October 2020
Efficiency Potential Study and Energy Planning
At the end of 2017, SaskPower conducted a Conservation Potential Review that identified the electricity savings and demand reductions available in Saskatchewan.
Last review: October 2020
Cost-Effectiveness Testing
Primary test: Utility cost test
Secondary test: Total resource cost test
SaskPower conducts testing at the program level to guide decision-making, and tests are reported internally at the portfolio level.
Last review: October 2020
Evaluation, Measurement and Verification
No activities identified.
Last reviewed: October 2020
Program Innovation
Neither provincial utility has a dedicated innovation or enabling strategies fund. However, SaskEnergy provides funding for cleantech innovation and research innovation annually, and SaskPower program funding from energy efficiency initiatives can be used for pilot projects.
Last review: October 2020
Support for low-income energy efficiency programs
There are no legislative or regulatory requirements regarding programing for low-income and/or hard-to-reach populations.
SaskPower administered a Home Assistance Pilot Program with Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to deliver energy kits to low income households between 2015 and 2017/18. In 2019, SaskPower launched the Energy Assistance Pilot Program, targeting income qualified households in Regina and Saskatoon.
SaskEnergy operates the Tune-Up Assistance Program which delivers a home heating ‘tune-up’ to homeowners free of charge. The program is open to households with a combined income of less than $68,000.
Last reviewed: October 2020
Enabling Policies See All
Enabling policies refer to policies, regulations, and other activities that build supportive infrastructure and policy frameworks to advance energy efficiency in a province.
Support for Financing
Third-Party Financing
SaskEnergy provides financing for appliance upgrades, and offers commercial leasing for all natural gas heating options through an arrangement with Jyske.
The Ministry of Environment is working with other government and municipal agencies to create a provincial Climate Action Centre, which will provide coordinated support for climate change-related projects in municipalities, including energy efficiency.
Last reviewed: November 2020
Research and Development
Several universities conduct energy research and development in Saskatchewan. SaskEnergy provides funding for cleantech innovation and research annually. SaskTel works on the delivery of innovative energy-efficiency projects in partnership with Greenwave Innovations. The Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund is managed by Innovation Saskatchewan to support technological innovations in core economic sectors, one of which is energy.
Between 2016 and 2019, 9.2% of energy resource-related NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council) funds were awarded for energy efficiency.
Last reviewed: November 2020
Lead by example
Buildings
The 2017 Climate Change Strategy states that the government will require new and renovated government buildings to exceed the 2015 National Energy Code for Buildings by 10%. The strategy also calls for increasing the number of government buildings with a sustainability certification. By 2016-2017 47 government buildings received BOMA BEST certification.
Vehicle Fleets
The 2017 Climate Change Strategy calls for using idle time limiters on government trucks, and commits to greater efficiency and lower emissions in government transportation fleets.
Last reviewed: August 2019
Grid Modernization
Advanced metering
SaskPower has conducted two smart meter pilot programs for the commercial and industrial customer segments since 2015, with 17,000 smart meters installed and another 25,000 anticipated over the next year. A future pilot program is planned for high-value residential customers. A pilot program initiated in 2008 in Saskatoon has resulted in 99% of Saskatoon Light and Power customers with smart meters.
SaskEnergy reported that, as of March 2020, 394,000 advanced natural gas meters had been installed, reaching 99% of customers, an increase of 4,000 meters from 2019.
Non-wires alternatives
No activities identified.
Conservation voltage reduction
No activities identified.
Rate design
SaskPower electricity rates are based on a flat energy charge for residential customers except for diesel systems, which have an inclining block rate with a higher energy charge above a kWh per month threshold.
Farm and business rates include an increasing base charge above 50 kVA, and increasing energy charges above a kWh consumption threshold. There is a time-of-use rate option for large industrial, commercial, or farm customers.[2]
Other
SaskPower has four other major initiatives underway, including the development of an outage management system, a distribution SCADA system, substation automation, and creating a new distribution control centre.
Last reviewed: November 2020
Carbon Pricing
Saskatchewan implemented an output-based performance standard on January 1, 2019 for large industrial facilities that emit 25,000 tonnes or more per year of C02e per year, with the exception of electricity generation and natural gas transmission pipelines. Large facilities with emissions between 10,000 and 25,000 tonnes of CO2e may voluntarily register under this standard.
A carbon price was implemented for electricity generation and natural gas transmission pipelines emissions under the federal government “backstop” in January 2019. Under the federal system, a charge on fuel producers and distributors was applied on April 1, 2019, starting at $20 per tonne and will increase every year to $50 per tonne by 2022.
Revenue from the federal backstop will be directed towards projects that reduce GHGs, including energy efficiency projects such as building retrofits and fuel consumption reductions.
Last reviewed: November 2020
Buildings See All
Buildings are a significant and often neglected component of Canada’s infrastructure, and high-performance buildings are important for our quality of life, physical and mental health, and economic productivity
Building Codes
Housing and Small Buildings
Regulation 128/2017 to the Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act adopted section 9.36 of the 2015 National Building Code of Canada, relating to energy efficiency in homes and small buildings. These standards came into force on January 1, 2019.
Large Buildings
Regulation 93/2018 to the Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act adopted the 2017 National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings, coming into force on January 1, 2019.
Stretch or Step Codes
No stretch or step codes.
The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Regulation states that future editions of the National Building Code of Canada will be adopted one year after being issued (Part II, Section 4(a))
Net-zero energy ready commitment
No commitment to net-zero energy ready codes.
A “What we Heard” consultation document from April 23, 2018 on the government’s climate strategy noted tracking the number and percentage of net-zero ready buildings in the province.
Last reviewed: August 2020
Building Code Compliance
Saskatchewan developed a Guide to Implementation of NECB 2017 which includes tools such as a compliance checklist. Training sessions were also conducted through the Saskatchewan Building Officials Association, the Building Standards and Licensing Branch of the Ministry of Government Relations, and the Canada Green Building Council, and SaskEnergy took part in a provincial committee on codes and code compliance.
Last reviewed: August 2020
Home Energy Rating and Disclosure
Mandatory home energy rating and disclosure: No
Home energy labelling voluntary or pilot program: No
The December 2017 Climate Change Strategy states that the government will “explore options to label buildings for energy performance”.
Last reviewed: August 2020
Building Energy Rating and Disclosure
Mandatory large building energy rating and disclosure: No
Voluntary building benchmarking and transparency program: No
The City of Regina participates in the Municipal Benchmarking Network of Canada, which collects data on the energy use of municipal headquarter buildings from participants.
Some buildings in Saskatchewan have voluntarily participated in building benchmarking through Natural Resources Canada using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. As of 2016, there were 275 benchmarked buildings in Saskatchewan, covering 1,250,000 m2.
Appliance and Equipment Market Transformation
| Space Heating | Windows | Water Heating | |
| Research and development | SaskEnergy co-funded lab and field testing for a natural gas cold climate heat pump in 2019 and 2020. | - | - |
| Pilots and demonstrations | - | - | - |
| Information and awareness | - | - | - |
| Technology and installation training | SaskEnergy provided training on high efficiency space heating (above code) for SaskEnergy Network Members. | - | - |
| Upstream or downstream incentives | - | - | SaskEnergy provides downstream incentives for commercial space and water heating. |
| Regulation, codes and standards | - | - |
Last reviewed: August 2020
Appliance and Equipment Standards
Saskatchewan harmonizes with federally regulated energy-using products.
Last reviewed: August 2020
Efficiency Requirements for Government Supported Housing
No requirements identified.
Last reviewed: August 2019
Transportation See All
Policies tracked in the transporation area reflect the potential energy savings of closer integration of private transportation with buildings and electricity grids.
Zero-Emission Vehicles Mandate
There is no zero-emission vehicle mandate in Saskatchewan.
Last reviewed: August 2020
Electric Vehicle Charging Program
There is no electric vehicle charging support program in Saskatchewan.
Last reviewed: August 2020
EV and PHEV Financial Incentives
There are no EV/PHEV financial incentives in Saskatchewan.
Last reviewed: August 2020
“EV Ready” Building Code
Municipalities can include EV/PHEVs in their bylaws but none have done so. There are no EV Ready provisions in Saskatchewan building codes.
Last reviewed: August 2020
Industry See All
In recognition that the industrial sector is highly varied across Canada, this database tracks policies that are broadly applicable to all industrial subsectors and provinces.
Energy Management
SaskPower’s Industrial Energy Optimization Program includes an energy management track that provides incentives for the development of energy management systems, energy management information systems, sub-metering, and planning and implementation for ISO 50001 certification.
The Industrial Energy Optimization Program consists of two tracks, one for capital investment and the other for energy management. The energy management track supports projects leading to the implementation of an Energy Management Information System, as well as a comprehensive Energy Management System involving the planning and implementation of ISO 50001 certification.
SaskEnergy co-hosted Local Energy Efficiency Partnerships (LEEP) Gas Mechanicals Technology Forums in Saskatoon and Regina in 2019.
SaskPower has hosted a few trainings to Industrial customers such as the AEE CEM Certification course, Compressed Air Challenge and other CIET workshops (Motor Efficiency). These trainings are not offered consistently. From 2016 to 2018 SaskPower has offered the Industrial Energy Management Forum. The Forum provides opportunities for training, networking, learning about SaskPower and NRCan Programs, tradeshows, and presenting Energy Management case studies.
Last reviewed: August 2020
Co-generation / Combined Heat and Power
SaskEnergy has funded CHP demonstration projects in commercial buildings and collaborated with building code officials and gas inspectors to identify installations. Both SaskEnergy and SaskPower have identified a lack of streamlined interconnection standards as a barrier to be addressed collaboratively.
Last reviewed: August 2019
