NAS running cost in the Prairies (Saskatchewan & Manitoba)
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated · Prices checked A NAS drawing 40 W around the clock (350 kWh a year) costs about CA$35 a year in Manitoba (9.97¢/kWh) and about CA$54 in Saskatchewan (15.476¢/kWh). Both are flat crown-utility energy charges; delivery, basic charges and taxes are extra.
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The calculator is pre-set to Manitoba; the rate is editable, and its source and dates are shown under it.
156 kWh/year · 18 W average at the wall
Electricity charge only: 156 kWh × 9.97¢. Delivery, regulatory charges and taxes not included.
The same NAS costs about CA$4.52/year more here than in Quebec (7.065¢/kWh): the cheapest place in Canada to run it.
A UPS adds a few percent loss but protects against the far costlier unclean shutdown. Annual figures use your current rate, drive count and active hours.
Two flat rates, a big gap
Both provinces bill residential energy at one flat price, with no time-of-use periods and no tiers. Manitoba Hydro charges 9.97¢/kWh and SaskPower 15.476¢/kWh, plus a monthly basic charge in each. For the same 40 W NAS that is CA$35 against CA$54 a year.
Worked examples
Because both rates are flat, the maths is simple: watts × 8,760 ÷ 1,000 × the rate. Set your province and model in the calculator above for your own figure.
- Manitoba (9.97¢): a 25 W two-bay box about CA$22 a year; a 40 W four-bay about CA$35; a 60 W six-bay about CA$52.
- Saskatchewan (15.476¢): the same boxes about CA$34, CA$54 and CA$81.
What the figure includes
These are electricity (energy) charges only: delivery, regulatory charges, the fixed daily or monthly charge and taxes are not included, and the fixed charges are not caused by the NAS, so they are not spread over it.
In Saskatchewan the higher rate makes the usual levers worth more: fewer, larger drives and spin-down where the NAS genuinely idles.
Compare with other provinces
Frequently asked questions
How much does a NAS cost to run in Manitoba?
About CA$35 a year for a NAS drawing 40 W around the clock, at Manitoba Hydro's flat 9.97¢/kWh. Electricity charge only.
How much does a NAS cost to run in Saskatchewan?
About CA$54 a year for a NAS drawing 40 W around the clock, at SaskPower's flat 15.476¢/kWh. Electricity charge only.
Why is Manitoba so much cheaper than Saskatchewan for electricity?
Manitoba Hydro generates mostly from hydroelectric dams, while SaskPower relies more on natural gas and coal. The result is 9.97¢ against 15.476¢/kWh, a real difference for a device that runs 24/7.
Devin Chua works out which drives, RAM and NVMe cache fit which NAS model at nasdrives.ca, and what the RAID choice means for usable capacity, checked against what is in stock on Amazon.ca.
Data checked by Owen Nakamura, Technical editor (data checking)