FEDERAL FUNDING BACKS MARITIME MUNICIPAL UTILITIES IN CLEAN ENERGY PUSH


April 20, 2026

BERWICK, N.S. – The Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance (MMEUA) has secured federal funding for a project worth $505,000 to strengthen grid modernization and clean energy planning across its nine member utilities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is making a non-repayable contribution of $420,750 toward the initiative to help community-owned utilities plan smarter, invest more strategically, and develop new programs to help customers make the switch to cleaner, lower-cost electricity.

“Strong, resilient communities are built on smart, forward-looking investments here at home,” said the Honourable Sean Fraser, P.C., K.C., Member of Parliament for Central Nova, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “This support will help community-owned utilities deliver reliable, sustainable energy services. By building stronger local systems, we’re helping ensure Atlantic Canada, and Canada as a whole, has the capacity to power its own future and meet the needs of Canadians.”

For the customers and communities served by MMEUA members, the work means more reliable service, expanded electrification options, and utilities that are better equipped to keep rates competitive and infrastructure resilient for years to come.

“Small utilities have big roles to play in Canada's clean energy future,” said Glen Fillmore, Chair of the Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance and Vice-President of Strategic Growth and Transformation at Saint John Energy in New Brunswick. “This investment deepens our ability to move forward together – sharper roadmaps, broader expertise and the kind of regional confidence that only comes from doing this as a team.”

Work under the initiative will include long-term infrastructure planning, operational benchmarking, enhancements to cybersecurity infrastructure and an electrification business plan to help member utilities capture new opportunities while serving customers through the energy transition.

“This is about making sure every utility in our Alliance – regardless of size – has what it needs to serve its community well into the future,” said Randy Delorey, Vice-Chair of MMEUA and Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Antigonish. “Together, we can achieve what none of us could on our own.”

MMEUA brings together Saint John Energy, Edmundston Energy and the Perth-Andover Electric Light Commission in New Brunswick; municipal utilities in the Towns of Antigonish, Mahone Bay, Riverport, Berwick and Lunenburg in Nova Scotia; and the City of Summerside in Prince Edward Island.

“Grid modernization and electrification planning are community priorities, not just utility ones,” said Greg Gaudet, Executive Secretary of MMEUA and Director of Municipal Services for the City of Summerside. “The gains from this investment will be felt across the region.”

The MMEUA launched in February 2025 to give community-owned utilities a collective voice and shared capacity to lead in the clean energy transition. This initiative marks the Alliance's first major coordinated investment since its founding.

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About the Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance

The MMEUA is a regional alliance of nine municipally owned electric utilities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Formed in 2025, the Alliance enables member utilities to collaborate on clean energy, grid modernization, operational excellence and customer-focused solutions while maintaining strong local connections and independence. Learn more at mmeua.ca.