By July 4, 2017 Read More →

Canada’s electricity exports reach record levels in 2016, but revenue declines

electricity

Quebec hydropower dam electricity

B.C. accounted for 89% of Canada’s electricity imports in 2016

Canadian electricity export volumes increased 7 per cent  to reach a record-high 73 terawatt-hours (TW.h) in 2016, according to the National Energy Board.

Quebec remained Canada’s largest electricity exporter, followed by Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba, respectively.

In 2016, these four provinces accounted for 95 per cent of total Canadian exports, all of which go to U.S.

The primary markets for Canadian exports remained the same: New York, California, Vermont, Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, and Maine.

Revenue from electricity exports dropped 6 per cent in 2016 after reaching a seven-year high in 2015.

 

This was mainly because of lower U.S. wholesale prices in destination markets.

In 2016, Canada earned around $40 per megawatt hour (MW.h) for its exports compared to $46/MW.h in 2015. With the exception of 2014, Canadian electricity export volumes have been increasing steadily since 2010.

In 2016, export volumes from Quebec reached about 26 TW.h, up 8.5 per cent from the previous year.

New York accounted for almost 11 TW.h or 42 per cent of these Quebec exports. Ontario exports in 2016 accounted for roughly 20 TW.h.

The majority of these exports were sent to Michigan and New York. In 2016, Manitoba exported about 10 TW.h to Minnesota and North Dakota.

BC set a new export volume record in 2016 of almost 14 TW.h.

Exports to California increased 45 per cent from the previous year and almost reached 11 TW.h.

BC also accounted for 89 per cent of Canada’s electricity imports in 2016, largely because of its strategy to import power when prices are low and export power when prices are high.

BC was able to import at an average price of $25/MW.h in 2016 while selling at an average price of $37/MW.h.

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Posted in: Canada

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