2026 Integrated Resource Plan informed by customer priorities

2026-10-05

FREDERICTON, N.B. – NB Power has released its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a long-term outlook that examines how New Brunswick’s electricity needs could be met over the next 20 years while balancing rates, reliability, and environmental sustainability.

The IRP reflects new technology, evolving policies and changes in customer expectations and electricity demand. It considers a range of scenarios rather than prescribing a single pathway, recognizing uncertainty around the pace of electricity demand growth and decarbonization.

“New Brunswickers told us clearly that lowest rates must remain top of mind, followed by reliability,” said Lori Clark, President and CEO of NB Power. “We listened to our customers, First Nations, businesses, community organizations and major energy users, and their feedback is captured in our What We Heard report. Their input is helping us plan for an electricity future that is practical, flexible and responsive to the needs of our province.”

Between March and July 2025, NB Power gathered input through a provincewide survey and in-person engagement. Nearly 10,000 residents completed the survey, compared with approximately 6,000 in 2022, and 258 people shared perspectives through in-person sessions. The What We Heard report highlights themes including low rates, reliability, clean energy, customer options, First Nations relationship building, generation choices, communication and economic impacts.

The IRP identifies two central uncertainties that will influence long-term planning: the pace of decarbonization and the rate of load growth. It explores potential roles for existing and new resources, including nuclear options, expanded interconnections, wind, solar, batteries, demand response and combustion turbines. The timing and scale of future needs vary by scenario.

The IRP is not a committed plan of action. It does not establish or determine electricity rates and does not authorize the retirement, construction or procurement of a specific generating resource. Any future project or resource decision would require separate business evaluation, regulatory requirements, approvals and stakeholder engagement.

Under the Electricity Act, NB Power updates and files an IRP every three years. The Government of New Brunswick approved the 2026 IRP in September 2026, and the plan will be filed with the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board. The Board is required to consider the most recent IRP when making decisions on rate setting and major capital spending.

The 2026 Integrated Resource Plan and What We Heard report are available at NBPower.com/ourenergyfuture.

Quick facts

• The IRP provides a 20-year view of electricity supply and demand based on the best information available today.
• Its three planning principles are least-cost planning, economic and environmental sustainability, and risk management.
• In a typical year, approximately 75 per cent of the electricity NB Power supplies is carbon-free, including nuclear generation.
• NB Power consistently exceeds the requirement to supply 40 per cent of in-province electricity sales from renewable sources.

Media contact:
Elizabeth Fraser-McAllister
[email protected]