Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS)

The SHA would like to explore utilizing an Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) financial model to further advance reducing utility consumption, costs, emissions and address deferred maintenance concerns while meeting two mandatory requirements:

A solution that does not result in debt on SHA books as defined by internal and external auditors.
A solution that is structured so that the Energy-as-a-Service payment stream will be cost neutral on an annual basis. The total year Energy-as-a-Service payment stream will not be greater than the total yearly utility savings stream.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) manages a portfolio of over 270 facilities across the province, with an annual utility spend of approximately $60 million. These buildings vary significantly in function—ranging from acute care hospitals and long-term care homes to community health centers and administrative offices. The facilities also span a wide spectrum in terms of age, construction type, and condition, with many facing challenges related to aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance. This diversity adds complexity to energy management efforts and underscores the need for innovative, flexible, and scalable solutions such as Energy-as-a-Service.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to evaluate the viability of adopting an Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) model as a means to accelerate energy efficiency upgrades, address aging infrastructure, and reduce utility costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its facility portfolio. The SHA manages a diverse array of healthcare facilities across the province, many of which face significant deferred maintenance and limited access to capital for infrastructure renewal.

The primary objective of this initiative is to assess whether an EaaS financial and operational model can provide a cost-neutral, off–balance sheet solution that leverages third-party investment and technical expertise to implement energy and water retrofit projects. The SHA is interested in learning from experienced market participants how such models are structured, financed, delivered, and maintained, especially within the context of public sector healthcare operations in Canada.

The information collected through this RFI will help to inform the SHA’s future procurement strategy and determine whether an EaaS approach can meet the following mandatory requirements:

The solution must not result in debt on SHA’s financial statements as defined by internal and external auditors.
The EaaS payment stream must be cost-neutral, meaning it cannot exceed the total verified annual utility savings generated by the implemented measures.

This RFI process is part of SHA’s broader commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency, and responsible fiscal management, and aims to ensure that health infrastructure supports long-term climate, energy, and service delivery goals.