2025–26 Annual Report of the Canada Energy Regulator – Overview of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER)
Context
The CER is Canada’s federal energy regulator. It regulates more than 73,000 kilometres (km) of interprovincial and international pipelines and over 1,600 km of interprovincial and international power lines. The CER also regulates pipeline tolls and tariffs, energy exports, and oil and natural gas exploration and production and offshore renewable energy projects in certain northern and offshore areas of Canada.
The CER regulates infrastructure and activities under federal jurisdiction to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of energy to Canada and the world, protecting the environment, recognizing and respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and providing timely and relevant energy information and analysis.
Preventing harm is the foundation of how the CER keeps people safe, protects the environment and respects Indigenous rights. The CER enforces rigorous safety and environmental standards and expects companies to adopt new technologies and innovative approaches to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their management systems in preventing harm.
The CER’s 2024-27 Strategic Plan identifies four strategic priorities that guide the organization’s work in delivering on its Mission and advancing its Vision:
- Trust and Confidence: We foster the trust and confidence of Canadians by effectively delivering on our mission with safety at the forefront. We engage and empower our diverse workforce. We strengthen relationships that uphold the rights and interests of First Nations, Inuit and Métis, and we communicate transparently and engage meaningfully with all our stakeholders.
- Reconciliation and Implementing the UN Declaration: We are implementing the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) and delivering on the commitments made in the UN Declaration Act Action Plan. We do so based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership, by working together with First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments, communities, and organizations. We continue to build the cultural intelligence of the CER.
- Competitiveness and Regulatory Excellence: We enhance Canada’s global competitiveness through leadership in regulatory innovation and best practices, focusing on cost-effectiveness, transparency, predictability, timeliness and efficiency of regulatory processes.
- Preparing for the Energy Future: We inform the energy transition by offering expertise and insight as the energy system transitions to a net zero economy across Canada. We focus on energy innovation, security, competitiveness, and safe and reliable energy transmission infrastructure that is resilient to the effects of climate change.
The CER’s operations are funded from parliamentary appropriation, but the Government of Canada will recover approximately 95% of the CER’s costs in 2026 from regulated industry. All collections from cost recovery invoices are deposited to the account of the Receiver General for Canada and credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Cost recovery for the CER is governed by the National Energy Board Cost Recovery Regulations.
In 2025-26, CER spent $117.77 million and had 583 staff (full-time equivalents). Financial statements are prepared annually and audited by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. An overview of CER financial and human resources is available in the CER’s Departmental Results Report, expected to be tabled in fall 2026.
Governance
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for governance of the Regulator, and its governance functions include providing strategic direction and advice to the Regulator. The board of directors must not, however, give directions or provide advice with respect to any particular decision, order or recommendation that is made by the Commission or a commissioner.
Chief Executive Officer
The CEO is responsible for the management of the Regulator’s day-to-day business and affairs, including the supervision of its employees and their work. The CEO has the responsibilities of a deputy head of a department.
Commission
The Commission of the CER is a court of record, responsible for independent adjudicative decisions and recommendations pursuant to the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act) and other legislation. For further information about the Commission’s activities, please refer to the 2025-26 Annual Report of the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator.
Indigenous Advisory Committee
The IAC advises the Board of Directors on how the CER can build a renewed relationship with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and recognize and respect their inherent and constitutionally protected rights, including providing advice on strategic, systemic, policy and program matters relevant to the IAC and CER mandates.
- Date modified: