Stop the Shock: Fair Electricity
for PEI Small Businesses

Maritime Electric rates increased 22% between 2015–2024 for small businesses (2023 - 2.6%), (2024 - 2.6%), and (2025 - 2.7%)

The 2025 PEI Energy Review found:

  • No consumer advocate exists for ratepayers ➔ one should be appointed for rate hearings.
  • CFIB recommends: a Small Business Intervener to represent commercial customers and prevent conflicts of interest.
2025 outage left 20,000 customers without power in western PEI
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Businesses need affordable rates, reliable service, and predictable rate increases with annual 10-year forecasts!

Hon. Gilles Arsenault, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action
Hon. Darlene Compton, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation, and Trade
Jason Roberts, Maritime Electric CEO & Board

Island small businesses can’t plan or compete when electricity rates keep rising without warning. Rates have already risen over 20% in the past decade, with more hikes approved to fund new gas plants and infrastructure.

In 2025, a single outage left 20,000 customers without power, highlighting the urgent need for reliable service and long-term planning.

Small businesses aren’t asking for subsidies, we’re asking for fair pricing, predictable rate increases, and reliable power to create jobs and support our communities.

We’re calling for:

  • Affordable, stable electricity rates for small businesses.
  • Annual rolling 10-year forecasts to support business planning.
  • Reliable service without excessive infrastructure surcharges.
  • A “Small Business Intervener” at all IRAC hearings – independent, well-resourced, and committed to representing small business interests.
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The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings.