Once a month, we partner up with LobbyIQ to update our readers on recent movements in the federal lobbying landscape in Ottawa. We provide separate coverage for each channel, defined by the most relevant industries, organizations, institutions, and subject matters.

Key Takeaways — Utilities & Power

• Lobbying activity totalled 136 meetings in August 2026, down from a 12-month average of 212.5.
• The biggest moves were in Electric power generation and Pipelines and lng.
• NextStar Energy, Canadian Biogas Association were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in August 2026 Data

National Electricity Strategy Drives Regulatory Consultation

The release of Canada’s National Electricity Strategy in May 2026 ushered in months of consultation with provinces, Indigenous groups, and utilities on grid expansion and regulatory modernization, with organisations such as the Electricity Distributors Association and Bruce Power notably engaging Natural Resources Canada and the House of Commons. This national discussion period coincided with heightened—but erratic—lobbying focused on regulatory efficiency, clean electricity rules, and emerging technologies like CCUS and BECCS, with Enbridge Inc. bringing feedback to the Privy Council Office and related discussions to Natural Resources Canada. The evolving landscape appears to have sharpened industry engagement around regulatory and climate policy reforms.

📎 The great rewiring: Canada’s electricity strategy · Canada’s New Electricity Strategy: Powering Canada Strong

Industrial Demand Surge Spotlights Data Center and Electrification Issues

A dramatic increase in power demand from data centers, artificial intelligence, and industrial electrification is prominently featured in industry and federal reports for 2026. Lobbying activity by Bruce Power, Capital Power Corporation, and Varme Energy, including meetings with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), relating to power supply for large-scale data centers and supporting flexible, dual-use grid arrangements for CCUS projects parallels this trend, as policymakers and businesses respond to higher load pressures and the need for rapid grid growth.

📎 Forging Canada's Electricity Future: 2026 State of the Electricity ... · CER – Canada’s Energy Future 2026: Energy Supply and Demand Projections ...

Bioenergy and Carbon Capture Tax Credit Rules Under Scrutiny

Ongoing consultations on the structure and eligibility of investment tax credits for carbon capture (CCUS) and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) closely track industry lobbying efforts by Varme Energy and Capital Power Corporation, including recent meetings with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Finance Canada (FIN). Advocates are pushing for a 60% ITC rate for BECCS and for geological carbon storage to be recognized in clean fuel markets—debates currently referenced in federal industry news and sector analyses.

📎 The great rewiring: Canada’s electricity strategy · News - Electricity Canada

Section B: Lobbying Activity by Industry

This section compares, by NAICS industry, the lobbying activity in Ottawa last month to its historical average.

Lobbying activity across this channel totalled 136 meetings in August 2026, down from a 12-month average of 212. The most active industry was Electric power generation, while Pipelines and lng fell below its recent baseline.

On the quieter side, Pipelines and lng had 25 meetings, down from an average of 46, Utilities (integrated) had 18 meetings, down from an average of 39, Electric power generation had 39 meetings, down from an average of 65, and Utilities (transmission and distribution) had 4 meetings, down from an average of 10.

Section C: Lobbying by Industry for the Past Year

To contextualize, we show each industry's lobbying activity over the past 12 months. The combined view from Section B and C shows you whether recent differences are persistent trends or a break from the norm.

Top Industry Residual Trends for 2026-08

↳ Utilities (transmission and distribution) has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Utilities (transmission and distribution) displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Electric power generation has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Electric power generation displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Utilities (integrated) has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Utilities (integrated) displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Batteries and charging has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Batteries and charging displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Hydrogen and fuel cells displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

Section D: Lobbying Activity by Organization

In this section, we see the organizations with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity.

The organizations with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include NextStar Energy, and Canadian Biogas Association.

On the quieter side, Canadian Renewable Energy Association, Enbridge Inc., and Pembina Pipeline Corporation all pulled back from their usual pace.

Section E: Lobbying of Government Institutions in the Past Month

Every time an organization lobbies, there is a government official representing a government institution at the other side of the table. This section shows the industry-institutions pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity. Below that, we show the corresponding organization-institution pairs.

Industries → Government Institutions

Organizations → Government Institutions

The busiest industry → institution corridors this month:

↳ Electric power generation → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 12 meetings (avg 18, -31%).

↳ Pipelines and lng → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 8 meetings (avg 15, -46%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ NextStar Energy → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 6 meetings (avg 2, +260%).

↳ Western LNG ULC → Privy Council Office (PCO): 5 meetings (avg 1, +275%).

↳ Ontario Power Generation Inc. → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 4 meetings (avg 3, +33%).

Section F: Industry and Organization Lobbying by Subject in the Past Month

All lobbying activity is tagged with a "subject matter". This section shows the industry-subject pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity, and below it the organization-subject pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month.

Industries → Subjects

Organizations → Subjects

The busiest industry → subject corridors this month:

↳ Electric power generation → Energy: 37 meetings (avg 63, -41%).

↳ Electric power generation → Economic Development: 28 meetings (avg 42, -33%).

↳ Electric power generation → Environment: 26 meetings (avg 35, -25%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Canadian Biogas Association → Environment: 12 meetings (avg 3, +269%).

↳ Canadian Biogas Association → Natural Resources: 12 meetings (avg 2, +397%).

↳ Canadian Biogas Association → Agriculture: 12 meetings (avg 4, +235%).

Section G: Last Month's Most Lobbied Politicians and Civil Servants

This section presents a list of the politicians and civil servants who took the most meetings with key industry players last month.

Most Lobbied Individuals by Sector

Most Lobbied Individuals by Organization

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by sector) this month were Pipelines and lng → Mark Saar (Privy Council Office (PCO)), Electric power generation → Martin Kolacz (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)) and Pipelines and lng → Jason Kearns (Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Western LNG ULC → Mark Saar (Privy Council Office (PCO)), Western LNG ULC → Jason Kearns (Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC)) and Western LNG ULC → Pranav Shah (Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC)).