Shaped by Our Customers. Guided by Our Community.

Zero30 was developed with input from community surveys, town halls, and the City of Saint John’s ActSJ: Pathway to Net Zero. It will continue to reflect community voices as it evolves.

Key priorities

In surveys and conversations, you shared your top concerns about our energy future.

88%
affordability

50%
reliability

37%
environmental impact

What we heard from you

“Reliability is non-negotiable.”

“Provide financing and rental options.”

“Keep electricity affordable.”

“Make clean tech accessible.”

“Be transparent about costs.”

Indigenous partner guidance

Indigenous partners played an important role in shaping Zero30. Neqotkuk (Tobique) First Nation, co-owner of the Burchill Wind Project, provided leadership and collaboration.

Consultations with other First Nations took place through energy symposiums, community events, and procurement processes.

Dynamic decision-making

Zero30 is not a set path, but a living plan. It uses advanced digital modelling to explore the impact of evolving factors such as electricity demand, reliability, and emissions.

Leading-Edge Modelling

We are testing real-world data and multiple possible futures to compare different pathways on cost, reliability, and emissions. This analysis combined several streams of evidence into a single, adaptable model.

Digital Twin

This virtual model integrates data from smart meters, weather trends, and customer technologies such as EVs, heat pumps, and solar panels, to test how our grid performs under different conditions.


Technology-Adoption Forecasts 

Explores the impact of customer choices around heat pumps, electric vehicles, rooftop solar and other clean technologies.

Grid-Impact Analysis 

Identifies where our distribution system may face stress and need upgrades as demand grows.

Supply-Mix Analysis

Explores different combinations of renewables, NB Power supply, battery storage, customer flexibility and carbon credits to find low-cost, low-risk options.

A legacy of energy innovation

For over a century, Saint John Energy has sought better ways to serve its customers and community. With Zero30, we are taking national leadership among Canadian utilities making the transition to net zero.

Our story

FAQs

  • Net zero means balancing the emissions we create with actions that reduce or absorb carbon, such as using cleaner electricity or supporting projects that store carbon in forests.

  • Zero30 is Saint John Energy’s roadmap toward a cleaner energy future. It outlines practical steps we can take to lower emissions over time while protecting affordability and reliability.

  • It will take a mix of cleaner provincial electricity, more local renewable energy, smart grid tools, and, when needed, high-quality carbon offsets for the small portion of emissions that remain.

  • Peak energy is the costliest time to use electricity. It occurs during the coldest winter hours when demand across the province is at its highest. Reducing usage during peaks helps keep costs and emissions lower for everyone.

  • Offsets help balance emissions that can’t yet be eliminated. They support projects, such as in forestry, that reduce or absorb carbon, helping us stay on a cleaner pathway while keeping costs stable.

  • No. Every action within Zero30 is evaluated with affordability in mind. The roadmap is designed to keep rates stable by focusing on the lowest-cost, highest-impact options and avoiding unnecessary upgrades.

  • No. Zero30 is a pathway, not a fixed deadline. It’s a flexible plan that will evolve as technology changes, as the provincial grid becomes cleaner, and as we learn from our customers. Stable rates and reliable electricity will be foremost in everything we do.

  • More people are choosing electric vehicles, heat pumps, and efficient electric technologies. These changes reduce fossil-fuel use but increase electricity demand. Saint John’s electricity use could grow by 5-35% by 2030.

  • It’s a virtual model of our electricity grid that helps us plan for the future. It shows how electricity use may change and helps us target upgrades where they’re needed most, keeping the system reliable and cost-effective.

  • No. All customer programs are entirely optional. Our role is to offer practical tools like heat pump rentals and smart water heaters that help lower bills and make clean energy easier, only if and when you choose to participate.

  • Through strategic planning and smart technology. Tools like the digital twin help us identify where upgrades are needed, while smart-grid systems like Kraken Flex help reduce stress during busy periods. This ensures reliable electricity as our community grows.

  • Projects include the Burchill Wind Farm, the Menahqwesk Kisuhs Solar development, utility-scale battery storage, and future opportunities for local renewable energy. These projects help strengthen reliability and support cleaner power over time.

  • Clean energy projects, electrification programs, and smart grid investments create new skilled jobs, attract innovative companies, and help position Saint John as a leader in clean energy solutions

  • NB Power supplies most of the electricity we deliver. Its goal of a net-zero grid by 2035, and the steps outlined in its Integrated Resource Plan, are central to our pathway toward cleaner energy.

  • Even with cleaner electricity and new renewables, a small portion of emissions may remain. High-quality offsets, used carefully and only when needed, help balance emissions costs effectively as local projects mature.

  • You can take part in programs like heat pump rentals, EV charging, e-bike financing, smart water heaters, and Shave the Peak alerts. You can also attend community sessions or share your feedback through our engagement tools.

  • Our partnerships with Indigenous communities, including Neqotkuk First Nation, are central to clean-energy projects like Burchill Wind and Menahqwesk Kisuhs Solar. These collaborations bring local knowledge, shared opportunity, and long-term benefits.

  • Electricity is becoming more critical in everyday life. Planning now, using tools like the digital twin, helps us avoid costly upgrades later, maintain reliability, and keep rates stable as Saint John grows.