The provincial government is pushing ahead on electrification, recently empowering Manitoba Hydro to operate its own EV charging network

Manitoba Hydro, the provincial utility, is considering becoming an electric vehicle charging network operator.

Earlier this fall the province released its Affordable Energy Plan. It details how the province plans to support sustainable and reliable energy access, including to public EV charging stations.

“Manitoba Hydro is starting to explore several options — including partnerships, potential placements, and levels of chargers — to balance a potential Manitoba Hydro-owned EV charging infrastructure with chargers already installed by communities, businesses, and industry,” reads an email from Scott Powell, director of corporate communications for Manitoba Hydro, in response to questions from Electric Autonomy.

Powell goes on to say, “the rapidly evolving development and adoption of EVs and their infrastructure is one of the key signposts along the roadmap to Manitoba’s energy future.” So far, no firm decisions have been made about a Manitoba Hydro-owned EV charging network.

Manitoba’s Affordable Energy Plan

Since a new government came into office last year, Manitoba is prioritizing EV adoption in the province.

According to Statistics Canada, there are 3,173 battery-electric vehicles registered in the province as of Q2 2024. And, earlier this year, the NDPs made good on a campaign promise and began offering a $4,000 rebate for the purchase of a new battery-electric vehicle.

Now, the new Affordable Energy Plan details the vision behind Manitoba Hydro’s role in providing EV charging.

“[N]ew Manitoba Hydro owned and operated public EV chargers will provide an accessible and reliable infrastructure to grow the use of zero emission vehicles in Manitoba,” it declares.

“By adopting new standards and best practices for connecting EV charges to their grid to ensure reliability of the EV charging system Hydro will give Manitobans the confidence they can use their EVs anywhere and anytime.”

In addition, the plan discusses other sustainable goals. These include implementing EV charging-ready standards in the provincial building code, developing green hydrogen resources and upgrading electrical infrastructure.

Utility-owned charging networks

Should Manitoba Hydro establish its own charging network it would join a growing group of utility-owned charging networks.

BC Hydro, Hydro-Québec, Ivy Charging Network (a subsidiary of Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation), Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, Epcor Utilities, Alectra Utilities, New Brunswick Power and SaskPower all to varying degrees, provide EV charging in Canada.

Having utilities partake in the deployment of charging infrastructure is a key component of providing widespread public EV charging.

Currently, utility-owned EV charging networks are responsible for at least 3,000 of Canada’s total 12,331 EV charging stations.