Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf, has been issued a new mandate letter for his position as Minister of Affordability and Utilities. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge minister Nathan Neudorf issued new mandate letter

Oct 16, 2025 | 2:52 PM

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has issued mandate letters to four of her government’s cabinet ministers.

She says, “We’re focused on results, not bureaucracy. These mandate letters keep life affordable, cut red tape and demand disciplined spending. Every tax dollar will be invested wisely to protect essential services, grow prosperity and get the job done for Albertans.

Nathan Neudorf was among the provincial officials to receive a new mandate letter. He is not only the MLA for Lethbridge-East, but also the Minister of Affordability and Utilities.

Smith says she expects Neudorf to work closely with the cabinet, caucus colleagues, and the public service to deliver on the following commitments:

• Continue to aggressively fight the federal government’s so-called ‘Clean Electricity Regulation’ until it is entirely abandoned and repealed. Pursuant to the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act motion passed by the Legislature in 2024, your Ministry is empowered to use any and all legal and policy tools at the government’s disposal to counteract, bypass, ignore, frustrate and offset the impacts of this unconstitutional regulation until its eventual defeat.
• Complete legislative and regulatory implementation of Alberta’s Restructured Energy Market and other regulatory reforms to achieve a more reliable power grid with affordable and more stable electricity prices for consumers.
• Complete work with the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) on a publicly available forecast of Alberta’s short-, medium- and long-term electricity requirements, as well as the current state of available power from current generators and approved projects under construction. In response to the so-called ‘Clean Electricity Regulation’, continue the implementation of a clear policy framework and contingency planning to ensure a sufficient level of reliable base load generation in Alberta in the event the CERs remain in place and result in an insufficient amount of new electricity generation being constructed to meet the province’s future residential and industrial needs.
• Work with the Minister of Technology and Innovation to ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre proponents that have ‘bring your own power’ generation projects are fast-tracked through the required regulatory processes, while ensuring the integrity and reliability of Alberta’s power grid.
• Address the issue of distribution rate disparity across the province, where some Albertans pay significantly higher distribution fees.
• Ensure all government agencies and departments have effectively implemented the Government’s reforms to wind and solar project approvals to protect our province’s pristine landscapes and prime agricultural lands while minimizing unnecessary transmission costs for ratepayers.
• Complete public, Indigenous, and stakeholder engagement on how nuclear energy can fit into Alberta’s energy mix.
• As the lead ministry, continue to work with the other relevant ministries to develop a nuclear roadmap and regulatory framework, based on engagement, that will provide certainty to industry stakeholders and ensure projects can be advanced as soon as possible.
• Work with the governments of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Montana to explore options for interties that will further enhance the reliability of Alberta’s power grid and lower costs for ratepayers.
• Work with industry on providing the government with proposals to assist with more efficient electricity usage through demand-side management.

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Neudorf will also provide support on a couple of initiatives that his colleagues are working on:

• Continue to work collaboratively with the Minister of Indigenous Relations, who is the lead, and the Minister of Technology and Innovation to review and make recommendations to accelerate the connection of First Nations and Metis Settlement communities to electricity, natural gas and internet services.
• In cooperation with the Minister of Technology and Innovation, who is the lead, and the President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, complete and publicly announce Alberta’s AI data centre attraction strategy that combines strong investment attractiveness with stable, affordable electricity and fair returns for Albertans.

Neudorf assures that he will work to achieve all of these goals.

“Albertans deserve affordable, reliable power. From modernizing the power grid and exploring nuclear power to fighting punitive federal policies and addressing distribution rate disparity, I’ll keep working hard for an energy future that’s brighter, stronger and more affordable for all Albertans,” says Neudorf.

You can read Smith’s full mandate letter to Neudorf here.

Also, read the mandate letters to Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally, Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish, and Minister of Finance Nate Horner.