Electricity supply
Canada's total electricity generation in 2024 reached 622.2 million megawatt-hours (MWh), a slight decline from the previous year (-0.2%; -1.2 million MWh).
Electricity generation from renewable sources, including hydroelectricity, wind energy and solar energy, accounted for 63.9% of total electricity production in 2024. Despite declines in some provinces, hydroelectricity remained the largest contributor to Canada's electricity generation, generating 55.2% (343.5 million MWh) of electricity. Quebec produced 50.2% (172.5 million MWh) of the hydroelectricity in Canada.
In 2024, the total hydroelectric generation decreased by 3.8% to 343.5 million MWh, primarily due to drought conditions in Quebec (-6.1%) and Manitoba (-8.9%). At the same time, both wind and solar energy generation experienced year-over-year increases, as provinces continue to switch towards renewable generation types.
Nuclear energy generation fell by 3.9% compared with the previous year to 80.7 million MWh in 2024. Both New Brunswick (-62.8%) and Ontario (-0.4%) recorded year-over-year declines in nuclear energy generation.
Canada's total thermal energy generation rose by 1.7% in 2024 to 224.0 million MWh. This increase reflects a 1.4% decline in thermal energy generation by industries being offset by a 2.2% gain in thermal energy generation by utilities. The largest increase came from the Ontario utilities sector (104.7 million MWh), in which thermal energy generation was up 5.6% in 2024. Nova Scotia (7.0 million MWh) also saw an increase in thermal energy generation, up 6.3% in 2024. For more information on thermal energy generation in Canada, see the release "Electric power thermal generating station fuel consumption, 2024 (preliminary)," published on October 21, 2025.
Electricity trade
In 2024, total exports of electricity from Canada to the United States decreased 24.5% from the previous year to 36.1 million MWh. Conversely, total electricity imports from the United States increased by 12.7% to 23.5 million MWh.
The provinces that exported the most electricity to the United States in 2024 were Ontario (12.8 million MWh), British Columbia (6.3 million MWh) and Manitoba (6.0 million MWh). All provinces exporting electricity to the United States observed a decline in 2024, apart from Newfoundland and Labrador, which saw an increase of 11.4% compared with 2023.
In 2024, British Columbia imported the most electricity (14.5 million MWh) from the United States, albeit down 13.8%, from the previous year. Quebec saw the largest year-over-year increase of electricity imports, receiving 3.9 million MWh, from the United States in 2024.
Electricity use
In 2024, sales volume (expressed as MWh) of electricity delivered to end-use consumers increased by 1.3% compared with 2023 to 503.3 million MWh. Total sales dollar value decreased 6.9% to $46.9 billion in 2024. Among the customer segments, the sales volumes for other sectors (1.7%), the residential sector (1.5%), the agriculture sector (0.7%) and the mining and manufacturing sector (0.5%) all increased year over year.
Note to readers
The Annual Electricity Supply and Disposition Survey (AELE) provides data on the amount of electricity generated, interprovincial movements of electricity, imports, exports and sales to final consumers.
Data from 2020 to 2023 have been revised.
The AELE is now administered as part of Statistics Canada's Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP). Detailed information about the IBSP is available from the Behind the data module of our website.
Industry group 2211 - Electric power generation, transmission and distribution comprises establishments primarily engaged in the generation of bulk electric power, transmission from generating facilities to distribution centres and/or distribution to end users.
Industries would include any other type of business sector, such as 11 - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, 21 - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, 23 -Construction and 31-33 Manufacturing.
Occasionally, data from Environment and Climate Change Canada are referenced by the Energy Statistics Program using Cooling Degree Days (CDDs) or Heating Degree Days (HDDs) as a measure of temperature. CDDs reflect the relationship between outdoor temperatures and the need to cool indoors to maintain room temperature. As temperatures outside rise, the number of CDDs increases. HDDs are the opposite and reflect the need to heat indoors to maintain room temperature. As temperatures outside fall, the number of HDDs increases.
Visit the Energy statistics portal to find data, tools and reports to provide you with the latest information on energy in Canada.
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 (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).