The role of hydropower
Hydropower is Canada’s most used energy source, with hydroelectric turbines having a combined capacity of over 80 gigawatts. The majority of Canada's hydropower generation is located in Québec. This is also the largest contributing factor to the relatively low electricity prices in the province. The average electricity costs for end users in Canada with a monthly consumption of 1,000 kilowatt hours stood at 17.9 Canadian cents in early 2021, compared with 7.3 Canadian cents in Québec.Industry regulation and employment
In Canada, energy policies are implemented by both the federal and provincial governments. Overall objectives are established by the federal government, while the provincial governments enforce these objectives and develop strategies to reach these goals. The provincial governments regulate the exploration, development, and conservation of fossil fuels as well as electricity production and generation. Under provincial jurisdictions, utility boards regulate oil and natural gas activities, pipelines, and distribution systems, while the federal government manages interprovincial and international trade of the country’s energy resources.The number of employees in the energy industry has decreased in recent years. While there were over 300,000 people employed in 2019, by 2021 the number of jobs had decreased to around 257,000.
