A unique partnership between clean energy leaders, researchers, the provincial government and multiple First Nations is accelerating Indigenous energy sovereignty and advancing equitable clean energy development across British Columbia.
The multi-partner, cross-sectoral First Nations Utility Study will identify pathways for First Nations to develop and operate their own energy utilities by outlining the financial, technological and policy conditions needed for long-term success. It will deliver tailored utility models for each participating Nation while generating practical insights to support Indigenous-led energy development across the province.
Partners behind this study include Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET), the Clean Energy Association of British Columbia (CEBC), the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions (MECS), the Penticton Indian Band (Snpink'tn), Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis First Nation, and Quatsino First Nation.
The First Nations involved will also lead collaborative research on the traditional role that energy utilities have played in the past and define what a utility means for their communities today.
The study is being led by ACET, a multi-partner initiative based at the University of Victoria (UVic) that is accelerating the global push for resilient and equitable clean-energy solutions through local, community-based collaborations.
This study will find new opportunities for First Nations to shape Canada's energy future through solutions that align with community priorities, economic self-determination and forward-looking stewardship. We're proud to support partnering Nations on energy solutions that will empower their communities for generations to come."
Curran Crawford, ACET Executive Director
Foundations built by First Nations leadership
The First Nations Utility Study stands on years of meaningful work between First Nations in dialogue with the province work that has steadily shaped the path toward Indigenous-led energy systems in British Columbia including the BC Utilities Commission's Utilities Inquiry in 2019-20, which asked fundamental questions about the ownership, services and regulations of utilities operating under First Nation authority.
Commitment by the province to advance this work was reinforced in the Declaration Act Action Plan, which called for the identification of First Nations-led clean energy opportunities and co-development of supporting policies.
Subsequent collaborations between the Province and Indigenous leaders and knowledge holders, which were highlighted in the June 2025 Declaration Act Annual Report, reaffirmed that commitment and ultimately laid the foundations upon which the First Nations Utility Study was built.
"Indigenous leadership is essential to the clean-energy future of the province, and UVic is proud to partner with the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions, the Clean Energy Association of British Columbia, the Penticton Indian Band (Snpink'tn), Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis and Quatsino First Nations to help break down systemic barriers in BC's clean-energy sector," says Qwul'sih'yah'maht, Robina Thomas, acting president and vice-chancellor of UVic. "This partnership will help build energy sovereignty for Nations and a brighter, more sustainable future for our province."
Driving innovation through community-based research
Behind this project is a shared commitment to collaboration and a belief in the central role of First Nations leadership the province's clean energy future. While each partner contributes distinct strengths, the study will be shaped and guided by the First Nations involved, who will define its goals, approaches and desired outcomes. Their leadership, knowledge and lived experience will inform the development of Nation-led models that others can learn from and adapt.
ACET researchers involved in the First Nations Utility Study will provide technical, financial and policy leadership through a community-based research approach grounded in reciprocity and respect, ensuring that the research is equitable and provides direct benefits for the communities it serves.
The Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions will support review of research deliverables to provide policy relevance and implementation pathways and assess study outputs along with provincial regulatory priorities and clean energy objectives.
CEBC will help to coordinate the study and provide sector-wide advocacy to help translate the project's outcomes into practical applications for First Nations and BC's energy sector.
UVic is excited to partner with the First Nations involved in this study. Community partnerships are critical for us they are the fuel for the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation initiative. The First Nations Utility Study will deliver practical strategies to support First Nations' energy sovereignty and community wellbeing throughout BC and ultimately, we hope, around the world."
Lisa Kalynchuk, Vice-President, Research and Innovation
Read the Clean Energy BC news release
Learn more about the ACET First Nation Utility Study
The research involved in the First Nations Utility Study is funded in part by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, through the ACET initiative.
Established in 2023, ACET builds on three decades of knowledge and innovation developed by the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems with industry, non-profit, government, and community partners.
ACET is a partnership between Royal Roads University, University of British Columbia, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and Yukon University, led by the University of Victoria.
