Saint John Energy launches $19.5M Grid Forward project with support from the Government of Canada
April 7, 2026
Saint John Energy today announced Grid Forward Saint John, a $19.5 million modernization of the city’s electricity system, supported by nearly $10 million in funding from Natural Resources Canada.
Saint John Energy today announced Grid Forward Saint John, a $19.5 million modernization of the city’s electricity system, supported by nearly $10 million in funding from Natural Resources Canada.
By lowering maintenance costs and enabling the future integration of renewable energy resources, these modernizations will improve grid capacity, reliability, efficiency and resiliency — paving the way for more cost-effective electricity in New Brunswick.
The project will accelerate key grid modernization projects, including upgrading underground equipment, enhancing outage management capabilities and introducing self-healing grid technology that can automatically detect issues, isolate problems and restore service faster for customers.
The Honourable Wayne Long, Secretary of State for the Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions and Member of Parliament for Saint John–Kennebecasis, announced the $9.75 million in federal funding on behalf of the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Saint John Energy is also committing $9.75 million.
“We’re grateful to the Government of Canada for this support,” said Ryan Mitchell, President and CEO of Saint John Energy. “This is exactly the kind of investment we identified through our Zero30 work. As demand grows and more customers make the switch to electric technologies, we need to ensure the grid is ready to support it. Grid Forward Saint John allows us to move forward sooner and more efficiently on upgrades that are critical to our system.”
Work on Grid Forward Saint John begins this year and continues over the next several years, with projects phased to minimize disruption for customers. The investment will support local jobs and contractors, contributing to economic activity in the Saint John region.
“We are investing in New Brunswick and Canada’s energy future, so we can provide reliable, affordable electricity to power our homes, businesses, and industry for years to come. This is the backbone of being an energy superpower and the strongest economy in the G7,” said Minister Hodgson.
“By investing in a stronger grid, we’re not just upgrading infrastructure – we’re building a more affordable, resilient future for New Brunswick. We are excited to invest in Saint John Energy’s work to make our city and our province more competitive and efficient for local homes and businesses,” said Secretary of State Long. “Grid Forward Saint John is about making sure our system is ready for what’s next,” Mitchell said. “These upgrades will help us improve reliability, reduce the impact of outages and build a stronger, more responsive grid for the future, while keeping affordability front and centre for our customers.”
Grid Forward Saint John supports the broader direction outlined in the Zero30 roadmap, which charts a path toward net-zero carbon emissions without compromising the affordability and reliability customers expect.
Saint John Energy’s Zero30 roadmap update, released last week, also launched a call for experienced developers to bring forward renewable energy and energy storage projects within the city, helping ensure new sources of supply can meet rising demand. And it unveiled “The Switch” – a new initiative that brings together expanded customer programs, including heat pump rentals, smart water heaters and EV charging support, to help customers make cleaner energy choices at home and on the road.
