Electricity & Natural Gas

Bookmarks on this page: Sector Highlights Capabilities Competitive Strengths Trends Key Players Contacts

Sector Structure

Size: Total revenues in 2005-2006 were $2.39 billion. This represented $1.88 billion in electricity sales and $0.51 billion in natural gas sales. The industry directly employs 4,400 persons and $11 billion in capital assets.

Dominant Activities: Predominant activities are the generation, transmission and distribution of hydroelectric power; and the transmission and distribution of natural gas. Hydroelectric power represents 98% of electrical power generated in Manitoba.

Structure & Concentration

• Manitoba Hydro is the province's sole electrical utility. Its power supply is generated primarily from renewable and clean sources of energy: 14 hydroelectric stations and a wind farm. Wind power is supplied from a 99 MW wind farm near St. Leon, Manitoba. Manitoba Hydro also operates 2 thermal generating stations.

• Manitoba Hydro is also the principal distributor of natural gas in the province.

Highlights

• Manitobans enjoy the lowest electricity rates on average in North America.

• Manitoba exports electricity to over 30 electric utilities through its participation in four wholesale markets in Canada and the mid-western U.S. Export power sales to other provinces and the U.S. contributed to a record revenue in 2005-2006 of $415 million.

• A 200 MW hydro-electric station (Wuskwatim Generating Station) is currently under construction on the Burntwood River in Northern Manitoba.

• Manitoba Hydro is in the process of constructing a new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient 22 storey corporate head office in down-town Winnipeg.

Sector Capabilities

• Hydroelectric and thermal power generation

• Electrical power transmission & distribution

• Natural gas distribution

• High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power transmission over long distances and conversion to AC power

Competitive Strengths

• Lowest electricity rates in North America
  Manitoba’s industrial electricity rates are the lowest in North America, and among the lowest rates in the world. Manitoba Hydro assists its industrial customers in further reducing their power costs by offering several alternative rate packages.

• Stable, clean, renewable power supply and ample room for capacity expansion
  The quality and reliability of the electricity generated by Manitoba Hydro ranks among the best in the world. Reliability indices, used to measure delivery performance since 1984, show that Manitoba Hydro's outage frequency and average outage duration, continue to be substantially lower than the composite average of other utilities across Canada. Reliability is also reinforced through Manitoba Hydro's eleven interconnections with neighbouring utilities - effectively increasing the size of Manitoba Hydro's system tenfold.
  
  The rivers in northern Manitoba that drive Manitoba’s hydroelectric generators have more than twice the hydroelectric potential of Niagara Falls. To date, only 50% of these northern resources have been harnessed. The capacity of hydro sites that can reasonably be developed exceeds 5,400 MW. A new 200 MW hydro-electric station (Wuskwatim Generating Station) is currently under construction in Northern Manitoba. A larger, 1,250 MW project (Conawapa Generating Station) is being considered.

• Leading capabilities with respect to technology development and transfer
  
  Manitoba Hydro, through its subsidiary, Manitoba Hydro International Ltd., provides expertise in the planning, design, construction, and operations management of generation, transmission and distribution facilities to clients worldwide. It has provided these services to more than ninety client organizations in over sixty countries.
  
  Through its subsidiary, the Manitoba HVDC Research Centre, Manitoba Hydro performs innovative research and development in high voltage direct current (HVDC) and power electronics technologies, instrumentation , and simulation. The HVDC Research Centre has become a world leader in the technology of electric power system simulation, applied power systems analysis, and related technologies.

Trends

• Environmental protection & sustainable development
  The majority of Manitoba's electricity is hydroelectric - a clean, renewable source of energy. In order to ensure the continuation of clean, renewable energy, Manitoba Hydro has long maintained a policy of sustainable development. This policy reflects the company's commitment to sustainable development in all aspects of its operations, and it ensures that natural resources are protected as much as possible during exploration, construction, operation, maintenance, repair, and decommissioning of its projects and facilities.

Key Players

Manitoba Hydro Meridium Power

Manitoba Hydro International W.I.R.E. Services

Manitoba HVDC Research Centre

Contact Info

Mr. Rick Halas,
Business Development Project Manager,
Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy & Mines
Tel: 204-945-4004
Fax: 204-943-0031
E-mail: rick.halas@gov.mb.ca
Web: www.gov.mb.ca/stem/energy/power/

Mr. Robert Kirchmann,
Business Development Consultant, Manitoba Hydro
Tel: 204-477-7776
Fax: 204-478-5191
E-mail: rkirchmann@hydro.mb.ca
Web: www.hydro.mb.ca

Related Links

• Energy Development Initiative
• Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy & Mines
• Manitoba Business Facts - utilties