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High-Frequency Electricity Data: Downloader Tool (Beta)

The high-frequency electricity data (HFED) downloader makes it easy to access important Canadian electricity information and supports Canada's path to net-zero emissions by providing high-quality electricity data in near real-time.

Developed by the Canadian Center for Energy Information (CCEI) in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada and the Canada Energy Regulator, the HFED downloader uses web scraping to gather publicly-available electricity data from provincial and territorial utilities across Canada. These data are then consolidated into a standardized central database for easy access and analysis, including historical data for select provinces, and new data points are added as they become available.

Use the tool below to select the province, energy variable and date range you want to download.

Note: Large data sets may take several minutes to download. Also, due to the high volume of data and the transient nature of real-time web scraping, not all data sets are complete and may contain duplicates or other irregularities. Please use with caution. We invite you to report any data issues as well as any other feedback to statcan.ccei-ccie.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

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Data sources

The data used to create this interactive web application is from the following sources:

Variable data dictionary

Newfoundland

DEMAND (Demand)
Demand is the requirement for electricity needed by consumers within a specific market or region over a certain period of time. Oftentimes expressed as a rate of total electric energy used, including energy to generate electricity, at a given instant or averaged over any designated interval of time.

Prince Edward Island

ON_ISL_LOAD (On-island load)
The amount of electricity required to power lights, motors, appliances, and other uses of electric energy in PEI. Electric load encompasses the total power requirement for end-use devices or customers within an electric system. This includes the power needs of specific electrical components or portions of circuits that consume electricity. Electric load represents the electricity usage at a given moment.
ON_ISL_FOSSIL (Total on-island fossil fuel generation)
The amount of electricity being generated from fossil fuel fired equipment. Typically, this generation is only required when there is an interruption of supply from off Island. Electricity generation in which the prime mover is an internal combustion engine, or a turbine rotated by high-pressure steam produced in a boiler or by a hot exhaust gas produced from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas).
WIND_EXPORT (Wind power exported off island)
Portion of wind generation that is supplying contracts elsewhere. The actual electricity from this portion of wind generation may stay within PEI but is satisfying a contractual arrangement in another jurisdiction.
WIND_PERCENT (Wind as a percent of total load)
Wind power as a percent of total load. Electric load is the amount of power required for an electrical component or portion of a circuit that consumes electric power.
ON_ISL_WIND (On-island wind generation)
Wind's kinetic energy turns the propeller-like blades of a turbine around a rotor which spins a generator to produce wind power. A wind farm refers to a collection of wind turbines interconnected to a common utility system of transformers, distribution lines, and a substation that injects energy into the electric grid.
WIND_LOCAL (Wind power used on island)
Includes only that portion of the Total Wind Generated that is being used to meet purchase agreements of the province's two electrical utilities, Maritime Electric Company, Limited (MECL) and City of Summerside Electric Utility.
IMPORT_CABLES (Import cables)
Submarine or underground power cables used to import electricity from one region or country to another. In PEI, import cables are used to transmit electricity between provinces by four subsea cables under the Northumberland Strait.

Nova Scotia

LOAD (Load)
Electric load encompasses the total power requirement for end-use devices or customers within an electric system. This includes the power needs of specific electrical components or portions of circuits that consume electricity. Electric load represents the demand for electricity at a given moment.
EXPORT (Export)
The total export of generated electricity across Nova Scotia. While Nova Scotia's primary source of electricity generation is coal, efforts have been made to produce and export renewable energy from wind farms, hydroelectricity to Newfoundland and Labrador, and tidal energy. Nova Scotia aims to harness clean energy sources for local consumption and surplus electricity as export to other provinces or regions.
IMPORT (Import)
The total import of generated electricity across Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia is interconnected with New Brunswick using net-scheduled interchange transmission lines to Newfoundland and Labrador for hydroelectricity. This allows for electric interchange across provinces when needed.
NSI (Net scheduled interchange)
The algebraic sum of all interchange transaction, trades, and transfers between interconnected electrical systems or balancing authorities over a specified period. It represents the net balance, indicating whether there is a surplus (positive NSI) or deficit (negative NSI) in the exchange of electricity between regions or entities.

New Brunswick

LOAD (Load)
The average total load in New Brunswick. This is calculated as the NB_DEMAND value minus estimated Transmission losses. Electric load encompasses the total power requirement for end-use devices or customers within an electric system. This includes the power needs of specific electrical components or portions of circuits that consume electricity. Electric load represents the electricity usage at a given moment.
RM_30 (30-minute reserve margin)
The amount of extra generated electricity capacity available beyond what can be used to meet peak demand. A 30-minute reserve margin indicates the capacity of an electric power system to bring electricity online in 30 minutes.
RM_10 (10-minute reserve margin)
The amount of extra generated electricity capacity available beyond what can be used to meet peak demand. A 10-minute reserve margin indicates the capacity of an electric power system to bring electricity online in 10 minutes.
SRM_10 (10-minute spinning reserve margin)
The backup electricity-generating capacity that can be activated within 10 minutes to the electric system ready to serve additional electricity demand or unexpected plant failures.
DEMAND (Demand)
Demand is the requirement for electricity needed by consumers within a specific market or region over a certain period of time. Oftentimes expressed as a rate of total electric energy used, including energy to generate electricity, at a given instant or averaged over any designated interval of time. Demand can be used to calculate total load by subtracting the estimated transmission loses.
NSI (Net scheduled interchange)
The algebraic sum of all interchange schedules between interconnected electrical systems or balancing authorities over a specified period. It represents the net balance, indicating whether there is a surplus (positive NSI) or deficit (negative NSI) in the exchange of electricity between regions or entities.

Quebec

DEMAND (Demand)
Demand is the requirement for electricity needed by consumers within a specific market or region over a certain period of time. Oftentimes expressed as a rate of total electric energy used, including energy to generate electricity, at a given instant or averaged over any designated interval of time.
HYDRO (Hydro)
Hydro electricity is a form of renewable energy that captures the kinetic energy in flowing or falling water to generate electricity. This encompasses both large-scale reservoir hydro and smaller run-of-river hydro systems, utilizing the natural movement of water to drive a turbine generator. In the context of Hydro-Québec, hydro electricity is measured as the sum of remotely measured output from all generating stations, including those under Hydro‑Québec's management and those from other electricity suppliers with supply contracts.
OTHER (Other)
Sum of the estimated output from facilities belonging to independent power producers using different sources (biomass, biogas, or hydropower), from whom Hydro‑Québec can purchase some or all of the output.
SOLAR (Solar)
Sum of the remotely measured output from Hydro‑Québec's solar power generating systems. Solar electricity is the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic (PV) panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. In Canadian context, solar power, by and large, refers to electricity generated by photovoltaics.
THERMAL(Thermal)
The remotely measured output from Bécancour Cogeneration Plant, fueled by natural gas. Thermal energy generation refers to the process of producing electricity by harnessing heat energy. Heat is generated to produce steam, which, in turn, drives turbines connected to generators, converting thermal energy into electricity. Various methods and fuels (fossil and/or renewable) can be used to generate heat for thermal energy production.
TOTAL_PRODUCTION (Total production)
Total hourly production of primary electricity by all electricity producing sources in Quebec.
WIND (Wind)
Sum of the remotely measured output from wind power facilities belonging to independent power producers from whom Hydro‑Québec purchases all output. Wind's kinetic energy turns the propeller-like blades of a wind turbine around a rotor which spins a generator to produce wind power. A wind farm refers to a collection of wind turbines interconnected to a common utility system of transformers, distribution lines, and a substation that injects energy into the electric grid.

Ontario

ONTARIO_DEMAND (Ontario demand)
Total Ontario electricity demand = Total Energy + Total Generation Without Offers - Total Exports + Total Off Market +/- Over/Under Generation. The requirement for energy as an input to provide products and/or services. Oftentimes expressed as a rate of total electric energy used, including energy to generate electricity, at a given instant or averaged over any designated interval of time.
MARKET_DEMAND (Market demand)
The requirement for electricity needed by consumers within a specific market or region over a certain period of time. Ontario market demand represents the total electricity consumption by residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional users within Ontario's borders. Oftentimes expressed as a rate of total electric energy used, including energy to generate electricity, at a given instant or averaged over any designated interval of time.

Alberta

INTERNAL_LOAD (Internal load)
Electric load encompasses the total power requirement for end-use devices or customers within an electric system. This includes the power needs of specific electrical components or portions of circuits that consume electricity. Electric load represents the electricity usage at a given moment.
COAL (Coal)
Coal is a readily combustible sedimentary rock created by geological processes of carbonized plant matter. The coal electricity generation process involves burning coal to release heat which produces gas, coal tar, and steam. The generated steam then drives turbines connected to generators, converting mechanical energy into electricity.
GAS (Gas)
Fossil fuels generate most of Alberta's electricity with various sources of gas generation, such as natural gas, refinery gas, synthetic gas, and other combustible gasses.
SOLAR (Solar)
Sum of the remotely measured output from Alberta's solar power generating systems. Solar electricity is the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic (PV) panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. In Canadian context, solar power, by and large, refers to electricity generated by photovoltaics.
HYDRO (Hydro)
Hydro electricity is a form of renewable energy that captures the kinetic energy of flowing or falling water to generate electricity. This encompasses both large-scale reservoir hydro and smaller run-of-river hydro systems, utilizing the natural movement of water to drive a turbine generator.
DUAL_FUEL (Dual fuel)
A dual fuel generator is a type of power generator that can operate on two different types of fuel, such as gasoline and propane or natural gas. Composed of at least two separate fuel systems that inject each fuel simultaneously into the engine combustion chamber. This allows for flexibility based on fuel availability, cost, or specific needs.
OTHER (Other)
Alberta electricity originating from sources not accounted for in other variables including biomass, fuel cells, geothermal heat, waste, and wood.
NSI (Net scheduled interchange)
The algebraic sum of all interchange transactions, trades, and transfers between interconnected electrical systems or balancing authorities over a specified period. It represents the net balance, indicating whether there is a surplus (positive NSI) or deficit (negative NSI) in the exchange of electricity between regions or entities.
NET_ACTUAL_INTERCHANGE (Net actual interchange)
The difference between the amount of electricity two physically adjacent Balancing Authority areas plan to import and export within the same interconnection. It reflects the net balance, signifying whether there is a surplus (positive net actual interchange) or a deficit (negative net actual interchange) in the actual flow of electric power over a specified period. It helps manage the flow of electricity between regions to keep the system stable and balanced.
TOTAL_NET_GENERATION (Total net generation)
The total process of producing electrical energy involves transforming various types of energy. This is calculated by the gross generation, which is the total amount of electricity generated, subtracting the energy consumed at the generating station(s) for station service, auxiliaries, or personal use.
WIND (Wind)
Sum of the remotely measured output from wind power facilities belonging to independent power producers. Wind's kinetic energy turns the propeller-like blades of a wind turbine around a rotor which spins a generator to produce wind power. A wind farm refers to a collection of wind turbines interconnected to a common utility system of transformers, distribution lines, and a substation that injects energy into the electric grid.

British Columbia

LOAD (Load)
Hourly control area load. Electric load encompasses the total power requirement for end-use devices or customers within an electric system. This includes the power needs of specific electrical components or portions of circuits that consume electricity. Electric load represents the electricity usage at a given moment.