SaskPower rate hikes come into effect, here’s what that means for you

The SaskPower logo can be seen in this file photo.

SaskPower has introduced a 3.9 per cent rate increase, which has come into effect on Sunday. Here’s what that means for you.

According to SaskPower, the average residential customer will see an increases of $5 per month, while the average farm customer will see an increase of $11 per month.

The Crown utility announced on Jan. 2 that it had submitted a proposal to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel for a rate increase of 3.9 per cent in both 2026 and 2027, citing the necessity of maintaining reliability for SaskPower customers.

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The announcement was met with criticism from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), which urged SaskPower to reconsider the planned rate hikes.

In a letter to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel dated Jan. 13, CFIB’s director of legislative affairs, along with the senior policy analyst, argued that SaskPower’s application for consecutive rate increases will hurt businesses.

• ‘Simply can’t afford’: CFIB urges SaskPower against planned rate hikes

The provincial NDP also criticized the rate hike and called for it to be scrapped, claiming that the plan would raise electricity bills by more than $135 million over the next year.

Concerns over the increase were also been raised by the province’s farming community.

• Sask. NDP urges government to scrap proposed SaskPower rate hike

The Rate Review Panel told CTV News that the government has the ultimate authority over when a rate will increase and by how much, noting that the government had authorized SaskPower to implement the rate increase.

The Government of Saskatchewan said it will continue to invest in its power grid to support record investments.

“We have made decisions that have ensured that Saskatchewan businesses have an affordable and reliable power system while prioritizing the energy security of our province,” the province said in a written statement to CTV News.