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Electric power statistics, August 2014

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Released: 2014-10-24

Canada produced 47.4 million megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity in August, down 2.0% from the same period in 2013. The decrease in generation was largely attributable to a 1.3% decline in domestic demand. Compared with August 2013, demand was down in six provinces and two territories, led by Quebec (-2.3% to 14.4 million MWh).

Lower demand in Quebec also resulted in fewer receipts from other provinces, particularly Newfoundland and Labrador, while power generation in Quebec edged up 0.2% year over year to 15.5 million MWh in August.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Electricity generation and consumption - Description and data table
Electricity generation and consumption

Chart 1: Electricity generation and consumption - Description and data table

In Newfoundland and Labrador, total deliveries to other provinces declined 32.7% on a year-over-year basis to 1.3 million MWh. Total electric generation fell 23.7% to 2.1 million MWh as a result of lower hydro power output. Demand within the province fell 2.9% to 0.8 million MWh.

In British Columbia, demand for electric power fell 4.6% year over year to 4.6 million MWh in August as a result of cooler temperatures in the lower mainland. In August, 4.8 million MWh of electricity were generated in British Columbia. However, hydro, combustion turbine and internal combustion generation combined were down 1.2% year over year. The surplus power was transmitted out of the province, with sizeable increases seen in deliveries to both the United States and other provinces.

Exports of electricity to the United States fell 5.6% year over year to 6.1 million MWh in August. British Columbia and Alberta were the only provinces to post higher exports.

Meanwhile, imports rose 4.4% year over year to 0.8 million MWh. New Brunswick saw a sharp uptick in imports in August as a result of lower than normal water levels affecting hydro electricity generation as well as transmission issues with Quebec.

  Note to readers

The purpose of this report is to produce a consistent monthly indicator of the supply of electricity in Canada, a key input in the calculation of monthly gross domestic product.

Total net electricity generation for Canada, the provinces and the territories combines all of the electricity generated from sources, including hydro, steam, nuclear, internal combustion, wind, solar and tidal.

Total available electricity is the total electricity generation, minus deliveries, plus receipts of electricity.

All data on imports and exports are provided directly by the National Energy Board.

Data for August 2013 and for May, June and July 2014 have been revised.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@canada.ca).

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