Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (commonly known as merely Hydro) is a provincial Crown corporation that generates and delivers electricity for Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and the north-eastern areas of the United States. The company is a subsidiary of Nalcor Energy.
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's installed generating capacity, 7289 megawatts (MW), is the fourth largest of all utility companies in Canada. Generating assets consist of 12 hydroelectric plants, including the Churchill Falls hydroelectric plant, which is the second largest underground power station in the world, with a rated capacity of 5,428 MW of power, one oil-fired plant, four gas turbines and 26 diesel plants. Every year, Hydro generates and transmits over 80% of the electrical energy consumed by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians – over 6,487 GWh of energy in 2004. Hydro also distributes power directly to 35,000 customers in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
In 1975, the Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission, a crown corporation originally established to assist in rural electrification, was renamed Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro Corporation.
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is the parent company of the Hydro Group of Companies, which comprises
Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited (CFLCo)Lower Churchill Development Corporation Limited (LCDC)Gull Island Power Company Limited (GIPCo)Twin Falls Power Corporation Limited (TwinCo)The Nova Scotia government commissioned (from SNC-Lavalin) a study in 2009 to consider an Atlantic wide regional electricity market operator.
A $6.2 billion deal between Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's parent company, Nalcor Energy and Halifax-based Emera was announced by premiers Darrell Dexter and Danny Williams on November 18, 2010. Nalcor Energy will spend $2.9 billion to build a power generating facility at Muskrat Falls, while Emera will invest $1.2-billion in the Maritime Transmission Link underwater power connection and $600 million in the Muskrat Falls facility in exchange for 20% of the 800-megawatts of capacity.
Churchill Falls Generating Station, 5428 MWMenihek Hydroelectric Generating Station, 19 MWTwin Falls Hydroelectric Generating Station, 225 MW (non-operating)Lower Churchill Generation Project, 3074 MW (in planning)Newfoundland (1,254 MW)
Bay d'Espoir Hydroelectric Generating FacilityCat Arm Hydroelectric Generating StationGranite Canal Hydroelectric Generating StationHinds Lake Hydroelectric Generating StationParadise River Hydroelectric Generating StationUpper Salmon Hydroelectric Generating StationRoddickton Hydroelectric generating stationSnooks Arm Hydroelectric Generating StationVenams Bight Hydroelectric Generating StationStar Lake Hydroelectric Generating StationExploits River (Grand Falls) Hydroelectric Generating StationExploits River (Bishops Falls) Hydroelectric Generating StationRattle Brook Hydroelectric Generating Station (Newfoundland PowerDeer Lake Hydroelectric Generating Station (Corner Brook Pulp and Paper)Corner Brook Stream Hydroelectric Generating Station (Corner Brook Pulp and Paper)Happy Valley-Goose BayMud LakeBlack TickleCartwrightCharlottetownDavis InletHopedaleL'Anse-au-LoupMakkovikMary's HarbourNainNorman's BayPort Hope SimpsonPostvilleRigoletSt. LewisWilliams HarbourNewfoundland (23.5 MW)
FrancoisGrey RiverHawke's BayLittle Bay IslandsMcCallumRamea (Wind Diesel)St. AnthonySt. Brendan'sNewfoundland (490 MW)
Holyrood Thermal Generating StationHappy Valley-Goose BayNewfoundland (100 MW)
HardwoodsStephenvilleHighlights in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
1947 – George Desbarats hired as an engineering consultant to undertake a water power survey1949 – Premier J.R. Smallwood promised to create a public utility1954 – On June 22, the Power Commission Act was passed creating the Newfoundland Power Commission, what would become Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro1956 – George Desbarats began as Commissioner and sole employee of the Newfoundland Power Commission.1956 - British Newfoundland Development Corporation (BRINCO) was formed to explore development at Bay d'Espoir and later Churchill Falls1958 – Premier Smallwood announced his Rural Electrification Plan1958 – John Ryan succeeds George Desbarats as Chair of the Commission1961 – Frank Newbury becomes Chair of the Commission1963 – Government passed the Rural Electrification Act, which established power distribution districts (PDDs) to assist non-incorporated municipalities to access electricity where feasible1964 - George Hobbs becomes Chair1964 – Bay d'Espoir Hydro Electric Development begins1965 – Government signed an agreement with Newfoundland Light and Power to give it ownership of the rural lines connected to its system. Any future lines would be jointly constructed.1965 – The Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission Act replaced the 1954 Power Commission Act and created the Newfoundland and Labrador Rural Electrical Authority (REA). The Act also provided for the establishment of a province-wide electrical code.1966 – Bay d'Espoir Stage 2 began construction1968 – Construction on Holyrood Thermal Generating Station began1969 – CFLCo and Hydro-Québec sign the Upper Churchill Falls power contract1971 – First power from Churchill Falls delivered to Quebec1974 – Churchill Falls project was complete.1974 – Wallace Read replaces George Hobbs as Chair of the Power Commission.1974 - Government acquires part ownership of CFLCo from Brinco1975 – Government reforms the Commission into the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro-Electric Corporation (Hydro)1975 – Denis Groom appointed as President and CEO of Hydro1975 – Government appoints Douglas Fullerton as the first Chairman of the Board of the Hydro Group of Companies.1978 – Stage 3 of the Bay d'Espoir project was officially opened1978 – Victor Young replaced Denis Groom as chairman and CEO of Hydro1980 – Hinds Lake Hydro Electric Development came on stream1981 – Roddickton mini-hydro generating station opened1983 – Upper Salmon Hydro Electric Development plant opened1985 – Cat Arm Hydro Electric Development opened making it the second largest hydro project on the island.1985 – Cyril Abery replaced Vic Young as chairman and CEO1989 – Paradise River Hydro Electric Development became operational1989 – Hydro Place became the official headquarters for the Hydro Group of Companies1991 – Cyril Abery resigned as chairman and CEO. He was replaced by David Mercer as President and CEO, while James Chalker assumed the duties of chairman of the board.1995 – William Wells replaced David Mercer as President and CEO of Hydro.1998 – Two small-scale private hydro projects at Star Lake and Rattle Brook were put into service2003 – New 40 MW Granite Canal Hydro Electric Development officially opened
