PEI potato farmers are facing a dual battle this summer from the cost of keeping crops alive during drought, to increasing their electricity options from Maritime Electric.
Greg Donald, general manager of the PEI Potato Board, says that the lack of affordable three-phase power across rural PEI is a major barrier for growers who want to install irrigation systems.
“Farmers are being held back because the power infrastructure simply isn’t there,” Donald said. “We’re paying some of the highest electricity rates in North America, and yet the service is outdated and unreliable.”
Three-phase power is the standard in most modern farm operations. It is essential for running large pumps and other heavy electrical equipment efficiently. Without it, many PEI growers are forced to rely on costly diesel generators to operate irrigation systems.
“It makes no sense,” Donald said. “Three-phase should be accessible in agricultural areas. Instead, producers are stuck with expensive workarounds that drive up costs and emissions.”
The issue goes beyond irrigation. Potato warehouses, dairy barns, and other rural businesses also depend on three-phase power. Yet Donald says Maritime Electric’s infrastructure lags behind.
“The utility’s reluctance to invest in rural power is stifling innovation.”
Farmers also see missed opportunities in renewable energy. Many warehouses and barns could support solar installations, Donald noted, but PEI’s grid system discourages producers from selling excess power back.
“Warehouses use a lot of power for part of the year and then sit idle,” he explained. “If you could sell power when you’re not using it, those solar projects would make sense. But the rules here don’t allow it.”
He also pointed to backup diesel generators, many purchased with government support after Hurricane Fiona, that now sit idle. “There are one-megawatt generators across PEI doing nothing. Why can’t we use that capacity to supplement the grid during peak loads? It’s an untapped resource.”
Donald says addressing power infrastructure should be a government and utility priority. “We’re talking about the backbone of our rural economy. Without reliable and affordable power, farmers are at a disadvantage.”
By Bill McGuire
btt@peicanada.com
