Newly proposed Cost-Benefits Framework will help overcome decision-making hurdles, support action on transmission line expansion, say UVic researchers
VICTORIA (October 27, 2026) — Today, the Western Transmission Catalysts (WTC) released a proposed framework to help decision-makers turn competing interests around new interprovincial transmission lines into collective wins.
Outlined in a newly released report authored by energy systems experts at the University of Victoria’s Sustainable Energy Systems Integration & Transitions (SESIT) Group, the framework aims to solve a long-standing challenge to getting interties built— namely, the complexity and lack of agreement among parties on what the benefits are, who they accrue to, and how.
“Building an intertie between provinces is a tough undertaking—especially when it comes to understanding the range of benefits it might offer and who receives them, which are critical to discussions about how to share costs,” explains Dr. Madeleine McPherson, WTC research director and co-author of the new report. “A consistent, shared, and transparent cost-benefits framework can help bring everyone onto the same page. The aim is to reduce friction around fundamental decisions like whether the project is worth building and who should pay for it.”
Getting interties built swiftly is an essential pillar of Canada’s National Electricity Strategy, which aims to double the nation's electricity grid by 2050. “Intertie projects build Canada Strong,” said Minister Tim Hodgson, in a June news release announcing financial and regulatory support for five projects and referring a Transmission InterConnect Investment Strategy to the Major Projects Office (MPO).
The MPO is working with other federal departments, regional governments, Indigenous Peoples, and industry “to identify high priority transmission projects and coordinate ways to help them move faster.”
In July, the Prime Minister and Premiers directed their Energy Ministers to work together on electricity interties and agreed to have an initial tranche of projects through pre-development work by July 2027.
“By proposing an initial version of a Made-in-Canada Cost-Benefits Framework, we’re aiming to support intertie discussions that are already happening across the country,” says Dr. Kate Lonergan, lead report author and senior researcher at SESIT.
Drawing on provincial models, global best practices, and input from electricity sector leaders across Canada, the proposed framework combines a core, quantitative analysis focused on common interests—economic, environmental, reliability and resilience benefits—with an extended analysis for more place-specific benefits including Indigenous interests, health and safety, and national security. The cost-benefits framework respects Indigenous rights and interests through benefit tracking and enabling early participation in decision-making.
“This is about creating a credible, common basis for informed discussions and decisions, including on important issues like cost allocation,” says Lonergan. The next step is to convene governments, regulators, grid operators, and Indigenous Nations around the proposal for input and refinement. The team is also in the process of modeling the new framework using prospective transmission lines in western Canada, with analysis to be published in early 2027.
Media Requests:
For background information or to arrange an interview, please contact Jessie Sitnick.
Phone: 416-859-8250 | Email: media@WesternTransmissionCatalysts.ca
Resources:
Briefing Note | A Made-in-Canada Cost-Benefits Framework for Interjurisdictional Electricity Transmission
Paper | Western Transmission Catalysts: Moving Interprovincial Transmission from Ambition to Action
About Western Transmission Catalysts (WTC)
Western Transmission Catalysts (WTC) is a multi-year collaborative initiative launched by Indigenous Power Coalition in July 2026 to expand interprovincial transmission across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. WTC unites leaders across industry, academia, Indigenous Nations, and civil society to overcome historic hurdles to intertie projects. With a focus on centering Indigenous leadership, delivering independent, decision-useful modelling and analysis, and facilitating interprovincial collaboration, WTC’s aim is to get shovels moving on projects that will create a strong, secure and interconnected electricity system.
