Changes to the Electrical Power Selling Price Index (EPSPI) beginning with the September 2011 reference month data

Starting with the release of September 2011 reference month data, the basket of goods used to calculate the EPSPI was updated to reflect the sales revenues in 2009. This update is to better reflect important changes in the consumption of electricity by non-residential customers in Canada.

The update, which occurs periodically, is designed to ensure the EPSPI reliability for two key purposes: a measure of inflation for the distribution of electricity; and a tool for analysis of price formation and behaviour as well as for contract escalation.

The update includes two major changes: the weights of various items in the basket of goods used to calculate the index, which was based on 1992 data, will now be based on 2009 data; and the EPSPI base year (the period for which the value 100 is assigned to the index) has changed from 1997 to 2009. As a result of rebasing, CANSIM table 329-0050 has been replaced by the new table 329-0073. This new CANSIM table contains historical and current data. A vector number concordance table between the new and old tables is available below.

Although the EPSPI base year has changed to 2009=100 in the new CANSIM table, the rates of change measured for periods prior to 2009 remain unchanged for both of the 1997=100 and the 2009=100 tables, barring rounding. From 2009 onwards, the same lower-level or elemental price movements are used, but updated 2009 weights will be used to aggregate these movements. Therefore, at the lower level, the movements will be the same, but the aggregate movements will change due to the updated weights. This means that with the implementation of the new 2009 weights, the index movements from January 2009 to August 2011 were revised.

EPSPI information and data are available in the monthly publication (62-011-X) and on CANSIM, Statistics Canada’s information database.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-888-951-4550; 613-951-4550; fax: 613-951-3117;ppd-info-dpp@statcan.gc.ca), Producer Prices Division.