Under the Electric Power Act, the Commission regulates the generation, distribution, and transmission of electricity by Maritime Electric Company, Limited and is responsible for, among other things, the approval of electric rates, capital expenditures, capital budget variances, transmission line changes, and energy efficiency programs.
The Commission’s regulatory authority over Summerside Electric is limited to assuring rate fairness for customers residing outside of the city’s boundaries.
Utility Applications – Current
- UE20741 – Maritime Electric 2025 Capital Budget Application
- UE21231 – Maritime Electric Weather Normalization Reserve Mechanism Comprehensive Report
- UE20740 – Maritime Electric 2023 Capital Budget Variance Report
- UE21505 – MECL Application to Collect Operating and Capital Costs Related to Hurricane Fiona – November 2, 2023
- UE22503 – MECL – Rate Design – June 30, 2020
Utility Applications – Decisions
- UE21318 – 2023 Bond Issue – August 22, 2023
- UE20739 – Maritime Electric 2024 Annual Capital Budget Application
- UE20605 – MECL Energy Cost Adjustment Mechanism Application – August 7, 2023
- UE21230 – 2023 Weather Normalization Mechanism and Reserve Application – June 6, 2023
- UE20738 – MECL 2022 Capital Budget Variance – February 28, 2023
- UE20737 – Subsequent Capital Budget Request – Advance Metering for Sustainable Electrification Project – October 4, 2024
- UE20946 – MECL 2023 General Rate Application – June 20, 2022
- UE41401 – PEI Energy Corp Electricity Efficiency & Conservation Plan – December 31, 2021
- UE21227-MECL-Integrated System Plan 2020 – September 30, 2020
Utility Applications – Archived
- UE20736 – MECL 2022 Supplemental Capital Budget Application
- UE20735 – MECL – Notice of Application – 2023 Annual Capital Budget – August 1, 2022
- UE20734 – MECL 2021 Capital Variance Budget -February 28, 2022
- UE20604 – MECL – ECAM Rate Increase – December 17, 2021
- UE20326 – Open Access Transmission Tariff Complaint – February 3, 2021
View all archived applications.
Utility Rates & General Rules for MECL
Legislation & Regulations
- Electric Power Act
- City of Summerside Electric Utility Exemption Regulations
- Renewable Energy Act
- Renewable Energy Act – Development Permit Regulations
- Renewable Energy Act – Minimum Purchase Price Regulations
- Renewable Energy Act – Net-Metering System Regulations
- Renewable Energy Act – Renewable Energy Designated Areas Regulations
Utility Reports & Filings
MECL – Vegetation Management Report – December 8, 2023
MECL – Sustainability Report 2023
MECL – Refiled Hurricane Fiona Post Mortem Report – March 7, 2023
MECL – Climate Change Risk Assessment – February 10, 2023
MECL – Capacity Resource Study by Sargent & Lundy – February 10, 2023
MECL – Sustainability Report 2022
UE21505 – Hurricane Fiona Post Mortem Report – January 31, 2023
UE21605 – 2020 Depreciation Study – July 29, 2021
UE21228 – MECL -2020 Cost Allocation Study – July 22, 2021
UE20730 – PEI Broadband Updates
UE41400 – PEI Energy Corporation to file Electricity Efficiency Potential Study
MECL – 2020 Integrated System Plan – filed September 30, 2020
UE21223 – MECL – Hurricane Dorian Storm
MECL – Review and Report on the November 29, 2018 Storm and Restoration
Annual Filings
- MECL-2022 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL-2021 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2020 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2019 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2018 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2017 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2016 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2015 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2014 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2013 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2012 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2011 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
- MECL- 2010 Rate Base and Return on Rate Base Calculations (Audited)
Frequently Asked Questions
Regulation of electric utilities
The Prince Edward Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission regulates public utilities, including Maritime Electric. The Commission’s role with Maritime Electric is to ensure that ratepayers receive safe and reliable service, and that the rates for electric service are reasonable, publicly justifiable and non-discriminatory.
In addition to approving the rates for electric service, the Commission makes decisions on a number of applications that may impact the level of service that customers receive, or the rates that Maritime Electric may charge for those services. These applications may relate to proposed capital expenditures, Maritime Electric’s allowed return on investment, or changes to Maritime Electric’s rate structure.
When the Commission receives an application from Maritime Electric, a notice of application is posted on the Commission’s website and published in local newspapers. This ensures that the public is aware of current applications and has the opportunity to participate in the regulatory process.
How are electric rates set?
The Prince Edward Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission sets the rates that Maritime Electric can charge its customers.
The Commission’s role is to ensure that Maritime Electric’s customers receive safe and reliable service, and that the rates for electric service are reasonable, publicly justifiable and non-discriminatory.
In setting electric rates, the Commission must balance the interests of Maritime Electric and the interests of its customers. This means that the rates for electric service must be fair to customers on the one hand, and also allow Maritime Electric the opportunity to earn a fair return on its investment.
Typically, Maritime Electric determines when a change in electric rates is necessary. Maritime Electric then files a General Rate Application with the Commission, requesting a change in the electric rates and explaining why the change in rates is required.
In recent years, Maritime Electric has filed General Rate Applications seeking approval for rates for more than one year. This is called multi-year rate setting. In multi-year rate setting, electric rates are set for a period of two or three years. This benefits customers by ensuring that electric rates remain stable and predictable.
The Commission must consider many factors in setting electric rates. As part of its General Rate Application, Maritime Electric files its forecast annual revenue requirement. The annual revenue requirement is the amount required for Maritime Electric to recover its forecast annual costs of providing electric service, and to earn a fair rate of return.
The annual revenue requirement is determined by looking at a number of forecasts, including Maritime Electric’s forecast energy sales for the year, the forecast cost of generating or purchasing the energy, and the forecast cost of delivering that energy to customers.
The Commission must analyze each element of the revenue requirement and determine whether Maritime Electric’s forecasts are reasonable. This is called cost of service regulation as the electric rates are intended to allow Maritime Electric to recover its cost of providing service to customers, plus a reasonable rate of return.
Once the revenue requirement is determined, the costs are allocated between Maritime Electric’s different classes of customers (i.e. residential, general service, large industrial and small industrial). The rates charged to a particular rate class reflect the cost of providing service to that class of customers.
The Commission invites public input and involvement throughout the rate setting process. When a General Rate Application is filed, a notice of application is posted on the Commission website and published in local newspapers. The public has the opportunity to submit questions to Maritime Electric, make comments to the Commission, and actively participate in the public hearing as an intervener.
How are capital expenditures approved?
Each year, Maritime Electric is required to submit its annual capital budget to the Commission for review and approval. The capital budget includes any proposed expenditures for capital improvements or additions that are anticipated for the next year.
Typically, Maritime Electric categorizes the proposed expenditures as relating to generation, distribution, transmission, or corporate expenditures. A capital expenditure may be incurred in a single year, or it may be a recurring annual expenditure as part of an ongoing capital program.
Once Maritime Electric files its annual capital budget, a notice of application is posted to the Commission website and published in local newspapers. Interested members of the public have the opportunity to submit questions to Maritime Electric and to submit written comments to the Commission.
The Commission routinely issues interrogatories to Maritime Electric to gather additional information necessary for the Commission to make an informed decision on the capital budget. This information is also shared publicly on the Commission website.
Following its review of the evidence, the Commission issues a written decision and order. The Commission has the authority to approve all or part of Maritime Electric’s annual capital budget.
Sometimes unforeseen capital expenditures arise after Maritime Electric’s annual capital budget has been approved. In that case, Maritime Electric files a supplemental budget request with the Commission seeking approval for the unforeseen capital expenditure.
Does the Commission regulate energy efficiency and demand-side management programs?
An energy efficiency and demand-side management plan incorporates activities, techniques and programs that are intended to reduce electricity consumption or modify when electricity is consumed.
A public utility that intends to implement an energy efficiency and demand side management plan must first submit the plan to the Commission for review. The Commission may approve the plan if it is satisfied that:
- The plan is reasonably likely to achieve the forecast results.
- The plan contains a reasonable estimate of the financial costs and benefits for the public utility and its customers.
- There is a plan to apportion the financial costs and benefits between the public utility and its customers.
The PEI Energy Corp submitted a new three-year Energy Efficiency and Conservation plan to the Commission in December 2021. The plan is for the 2022-23 and 2024-25 fiscal years. The Commission issued an Order approving this plan on April 23, 2024. The plan is effective March 1, 2023, and will be in place until February 28, 2026.
Does the Commission regulate net-metering agreements?
Net-metering is a way of allowing electric customers the opportunity to self-supply all or part of their annual electrical load from a customer-owned renewable energy generation system.
The Commission generally does not regulate net-metering agreements. Instead, the process, conditions, and rates that apply to a net-metering agreement are set out in the Renewable Energy Act and Regulations.
If you are considering a renewable energy generation system, you should consult the Renewable Energy Act and Regulations for more information.
If you own a renewable energy generator and a public utility (such as Maritime Electric) has:
- refused to enter into a net-metering agreement with you, or
- terminated your net-metering agreement
then you are able to appeal the decision to the Commission.
Does the Commission regulate the City of Summerside Electric Utility?
Maritime Electric does not provide electric service in the City of Summerside. Instead, electric power is provided by the City of Summerside Electric Utility.
Summerside Electric is generally exempt from regulation under the Prince Edward Island Electric Power Act. As a result, the Commission does not regulate Summerside Electric and does not approve the electric rates charged by Summerside Electric.
What if I have a disagreement with Maritime Electric?
Sometimes disagreements arise between Maritime Electric and its customers. The disagreement may relate to issues such as a monthly bill, the disconnection of electric service, or the cost of extending service to a new home or building.
In many cases, the disagreement can be resolved by reviewing Maritime Electric’s General Rules and Regulations. The General Rules and Regulations are approved by the Commission, and set out the terms and conditions of service, as well as the rates that Maritime Electric can charge for electric service and other services it provides.
The following process should be followed in the event of a disagreement between a customer and Maritime Electric:
Step 1: The customer should bring the disagreement to the attention of Maritime Electric. The customer and Maritime Electric may be able to work together to resolve the issue.
Step 2: If Maritime Electric and the customer are not able to resolve the issue, then either one may refer the matter to the Commission.
Step 3: Commission staff will work with the customer and Maritime Electric in an effort to resolve the issue. If the matter cannot be resolved, then the customer can make a formal complaint to the Commission.
Step 4: Once a formal complaint is made, the Commission will gather all necessary information from the customer and Maritime Electric. Once the Commission has all the information it needs, it will make a decision and will notify both Maritime Electric and the customer.