Electricity costs in Canada 2023, by province
End-users in Canada face varying electricity costs, with a national monthly average of 19.2 Canadian cents per kilowatt-hour, as of September 2023. Due to their remote location, electric energy is most expensive in the Northwest Territories, where the price per kilowatt-hour stands at 41 Canadian cents. Electricity generation in the Northwest Territories is largely reliant on hydropower and petroleum.
How is electricity produced in Canada?
Canada’s electricity generation employs a diverse array of energy sources; however, the country is primarily reliant on hydroelectric power. Hydraulic turbines, propelled by flowing water, drive generators that produce electricity. The widespread use of hydroelectricity, particularly in the province of Quebec, has contributed to the province having the cheapest electricity prices nationwide, at 7.8 Canadian cents per kilowatt-hour. In 2022, Canada generated nearly 393 terawatt-hours of hydroelectric power.
Average industrial and residential electricity prices in Canada
Industry electricity prices within Canadian cities differ, and the average industrial electricity price in Canada fluctuated between 5.33 and 14.08 Canadian cents per kilowatt-hour in 2022. By comparison, the average residential electricity prices in Canada oscillated between 7.59 and 19.48 Canadian cents per kilowatt-hour, depending on the city. Notably, residential energy costs across the country tend to be higher when compared to the industrial sector.
