As the province’s Crown utility, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) plays a vital role in ensuring reliable, affordable electricity while supporting the transition to a net‑zero future. Hydro generates and transmits most of the province’s electricity and provides distribution services to rural Newfoundland and all of Labrador.

While over 98% of the population is served by the province’s highly renewable Interconnected Electricity System, several small coastal communities are geographically isolated from the grid. These systems rely on a combination of Hydro’s isolated diesel generation and renewable generation from third parties, often referred to as Independent Power Producers. Serving these communities creates unique opportunities to improve energy efficiency in local homes and businesses, further supporting provincial decarbonization efforts.

Through targeted energy efficiency investments, Hydro is helping our customers in isolated communities reduce their electricity consumption. This work benefits customers through lower energy costs, while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions through reduced diesel generation — delivering both immediate household benefits and long‑term system savings, and environmental benefits.

Continued Growth of Hydro’s Isolated Community Energy Efficiency Program (ICEEP)

Launched in 2012, Hydro’s Isolated Community Energy Efficiency Program (ICEEP) helps residential and commercial customers in remote diesel‑system communities use energy more efficiently. The program, part of the takeCHARGE partnership, delivers hands‑on outreach, education, free energy‑efficient products, and demand management solutions tailored to local needs.

By reducing electricity consumption in diesel‑powered systems, ICEEP helps:

• Lower overall system costs and fuel use;
• Increase comfort and affordability in homes and businesses; and
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The program is delivered in close collaboration with local governments, provincial and federal partners, the private sector, and local program delivery specialists to better understand local energy challenges and develop community‑based solutions.

ICEEP has delivered programming in all 41 remote diesel‑system communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. To date, the program has:

• Provided employment for 60 local residents¹, strengthening community capacity and skills
• Distributed more than 190,000 energy‑efficient products free of charge, helping households and businesses reduce energy use immediately
• Supported 9,900 residential and commercial participants
• Helped communities save more than 14 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity — reducing customer electricity bills, Hydro’s diesel generation, and associated emissions

These initiatives will help reduce electricity demand on isolated systems, providing bill savings for customers and lowering long‑term operating costs.

ICEEP’s continued growth has been driven by strong community engagement and consistent program delivery. Ongoing surveys in homes and businesses help Hydro better understand local energy use, measure program impacts, and identify opportunities for deeper savings.

Hydro is also developing a roadmap to pilot and implement emerging technologies that support cleaner, more resilient energy systems in remote communities, ensuring residents benefit from the broader transition to a low‑carbon economy.

Top Left: Lighting upgrades being completed at the Makkovik Arena; Top Center: Exterior lighting upgrades at Rigolet Town Hall; Top Right: Program representatives delivering energy efficiency kits to Nain residents during an in-home visit; Bottom Left: Program representative delivering energy efficiency kits to Nain residents during an in-home visit; Bottom Right: Labrador Fisherman Union for Shrimp and Cod, L’Anse au Loup: install of 2 96,000 BTY Mini Split Heat Pumps.

Expanding Support for Industry

On February 12, the Government of Canada announced $2.7 million in funding through Natural Resources Canada’s Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) for Hydro to enhance ICEEP energy efficiency wok at fish plants located in remote communities across the province.

Hydro is providing energy management services, audits, and capital upgrades to help facilities:

• Reduce energy use and operating costs
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions
• Maintain production capacity and local employment

Hydro has partnered closely with these businesses, working together to identify opportunities and implement energy efficiency retrofits at these facilities through the GIFMP program. This collaborative approach aims to ensure meaningful improvements and shared benefits. By improving the energy efficiency of key community employers, the program supports economic sustainability while delivering customer bill and system cost savings.

¹ Employment includes local energy efficiency representatives and contractors supporting activities such as product installations, community engagement, audits, and technical upgrades.