Electricity pricing in Canada

Canada’s electric utility industry began as a loosely knit group of investor-owned operations spread across the country. As mass production and massive urbanization shaped 20th century Canada, the economics of electricity supply meant the gradual centralization of portions of the industry under government auspices, whether municipally, regionally or provincially. By mid-century, the provincially owned electric utilities that became known as Hydro-Quebec and Ontario Hydro were among the largest in the world.

Movement toward competition and industry restructuring has taken place since the 1990s in Alberta and Ontario while the trend also continues throughout the United States. However, the majority of Canadian utilities are still owned and regulated by the provinces and have limited retail competition.

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