History
Electricity trade between Canada and the United States dates back to the beginning of the century.
- 1901: first electric power transmission line between the two countries was built at Niagara Falls which enabled abundant Canadian hydroelectric power to be marketed in the United States.
- 1970: first 230 kV power transmission line built in Manitoba connects the two countries from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Grand Forks, North Dakota. It enabled a power exchange with the Northern States Power Company of Minneapolis, Otter Tail Power Company of Fergus Falls, and Minnkota Power Cooperative Inc. of Grand Forks.
- 1976: second 230 kV interconnection connects Minnesota Power and Light Company of Duluth to southeastern Manitoba.
- 1980: third interconnection, a 500 kV transmission line, connects with United Power Association (now Great River Energy) of Elk River, Northern States Power Company and Minnesota Power & Light Company, more than doubling Manitoba’s power exchange capability with the U.S.
- 2002 third 230 kV interconnection increases capability to import and export 200 megawatts of electricity as well as improve the reliability of supply in North Dakota and western Manitoba.
Trade Agreements
Nine formal long term export trade agreements with six electric utilities and numerous short term agreements with a variety of electric utilities and marketers in mid-western U.S., Ontario and Saskatchewan are currently in place. Three of the long term agreements involve seasonal diversity exchanges of energy ranging from 150 MW to 200 MW with two American utilities. Seasonal diversity exchanges are a particularly valuable form of agreement, especially between summer peaking U.S. utilities and winter-peaking Canadian utilities. The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator provides an opportunity for Manitoba Hydro to buy and sell energy in one of the largest electric energy markets in North America.
In 2006–07 export sales totalled $827 million with 80 per cent derived from the U.S. market and 20 per cent from sales to Canadian markets.
