Electricity Usage Down 6.8% in November 2015

Feb 6, 2016

Canada used 44.4 million megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity in November, down 6.8% from the same month a year earlier as temperatures across most of the country rose above seasonal norms. With lower demand, electric power generation also decreased, falling 5.2% on a year-over-year basis to 49.0 million MWh.

Exports of electricity to the United States rose 5.4% to 5.2 million MWh, marking the 13th consecutive year-over-year increase in exports. In contrast, imports declined for the 11th time in 13 months, falling by nearly one-third to 0.6 million MWh.

Lower demand for electricity was widespread, with eight provinces and two territories posting declines, led by Quebec and Alberta.

In Quebec, where electricity is the primary heating source, demand fell 8.9% to 16.1 million MWh as average temperatures rose above historical norms.

In Alberta, demand fell 13.4% to 5.0 million MWh, the 15th consecutive year-over-year decline. Much of the drop in demand was seen in lower generation levels, which totalled 5.1 million MWh, led by a decline in steam conventional.

In Ontario, demand fell 4.8% to 10.3 million MWh, the ninth year-over-year decline of 2015. The result was a 6.1% drop in generation levels to 12.0 million MWh, led by nuclear and hydro generating stations. Despite the decline in generation, the province increased exports to the United States by 15.0% to 1.8 million MWh.

Source: Statistics Canada.