PEIAlthough they’re mentioned in the federal budget, there’s currently no cost or timeline to replace two of P.E.I.’s aging undersea electricity transmission cables — but the premier says it’s a high priority.’The importance of this is stressed at every level that I can use to stress it’ Cody MacKay · CBC News · Posted: Nov 14, 2025 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz is travelling to Newfoundland this weekend to meet with his counterparts for a New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers meeting, where eh says energy will be a high priority. (Rick Gibbs/CBC)Although they’re mentioned in the federal budget, there’s currently no cost or timeline to replace two of P.E.I.’s aging undersea electricity transmission cables — but the premier says it’s a high priority.There are currently four subsea cables connecting the Island’s electric grid to the mainland. Two run from Cape Tormentine, N.B., to Borden-Carleton. Those were replaced in 2017 at a cost of more than $142 million.Two more cables run from Murray Corner, N.B., to Richmond Cove, P.E.I. They were installed in the late 1970s, and their lifespan is pretty much up.Premier Rob Lantz said he’s spoken to Prime Minister Mark Carney “extensively” about the replacement of the cables, most recently during a meeting between the two in Ottawa last week. The cables were also mentioned in the federal budget, but no further details have been announced.”I’m working to make sure this is a project that’s on the national radar, it’s on the provincial radar, the importance of this is stressed at every level that I can use to stress it,” he said.”I am very concerned for our energy future here, because if we want to keep this province growing in the ways we have over the past decade or more, we need to increase our capacity. I’m confident we’ll get there.”Atlantic Canada an energy ‘cul-de-sac’The Atlantic provinces as a whole are planning widely about their future energy capacity and generation — planning that’s set against the backdrop of Carney’s goal to make Canada an “energy superpower.”Nova Scotia is embarking on a $60-billion offshore wind turbine farm called Wind West Atlantic Energy, which would be the first of its kind in the country. New Brunswick just got approval from Ottawa’s Major Project’s Office for a critical minerals mine in Sisson Brook. Those undersea cables are the most important part for us.- Premier Rob LantzPrince Edward Island’s undersea transmission cables, the province hopes, will fall under a nation-building project and be covered in large part by funding from Ottawa.”Those undersea cables are the most important part for us,” Lantz told CBC News. “If you look at the Atlantic transmission network, we’re a cul-de-sac. We’re an offshoot, a branch off of a larger network, but that’s what we need to supply our Island.”Lantz is travelling to Newfoundland this weekend to meet with his counterparts for a New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers meeting.”Energy will be a very big topic of discussion,” he said. “All of the interconnections and generation transmission issues will be discussed at that time as well.”ABOUT THE AUTHORCody MacKay is a writer, editor and producer for CBC News on Prince Edward Island. From Summerside, he’s a UPEI history and Carleton masters of journalism grad who joined CBC P.E.I. in 2017. You can reach him at cody.mackay@cbc.ca
Premier says he’s putting P.E.I.’s undersea power cable replacement ‘on national radar’
