Energy Policy Directions
Northwest Territories Power Corporation Board of Directors
The GNWT has issued a Direction Letter to the new public Board of Directors for NTPC and NT Hydro. This letter provides clear policy direction from the GNWT as the sole shareholder, outlining priorities and expectations to ensure strategic oversight and effective governance. It establishes the foundation for accountability, financial responsibility, and long-term planning while ensuring decisions align with the public interest. While the Board guides strategy and operations, it does not set power rates, these remain regulated by the NWT Public Utilities Board. Through this modern, inclusive governance model, the GNWT aims to stabilize and strengthen the energy system, support economic growth, and create opportunities for northerners.
Read the full Letter of Direction to the NTPC Board here
Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board
The Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board (PUB) is an independent, quasi-judicial agency that regulates the territory’s public utilities to ensure that essential services like electricity are delivered fairly, safely, and at reasonable rates.
The PUB’s job is to make sure that the costs you pay for services, like power, are justified and that utilities operate in a way that protects the public interest. The Board makes decisions on matters such as electricity rates, service quality, infrastructure investments, and how costs are shared among customers.
It acts as a neutral body that balances the needs of residents, businesses, governments, and utility companies.
Why is the PUB important?
As the NWT’s electricity system evolves toward more renewable energy, greater local energy generation, and new technologies like electric vehicles, the PUB plays a key role in making sure these changes are rolled out in a fair, reliable, and transparent way.
The Board reviews rate applications, sets rules for new programs like net metering or independent power production, and provides oversight to ensure utilities are accountable to the people and communities they serve.
Direction from the Government of the Northwest Territories
From time to time, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) may issue a policy direction to the PUB to guide how it carries out its regulatory role. The GNWT has the authority to do this under Section 14(1) of the NWT Public Utilities Act.
In 2025, the GNWT issued a new Electricity Policy Direction to help manage the territory’s energy transition. This direction focuses on improving affordability, enabling community-led clean energy, and modernizing how the electricity system is planned and regulated.
Read the full Letter of Direction to the NWT Public Utilities Board
The GNWT previously provided direction to the PUB in 2010, 2015, and 2017 on issues related to the rate zone system, to introduce net metering, and to address issues with rate rebalancing. They can be found here: