High voltage power lines are seen in Beauharnois, Que., on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
CMUMONTR脡AL - Extreme cold forced Hydro-Qu茅bec to temporarily suspend its energy exports to Massachusetts just one week after inaugurating its new line.
Hydro-Qu茅bec and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs both confirmed the news, which was first reported by specialized media outlet E&E News.
The decision came as last weekend's polar vortex led to a significant increase in demand in Quebec. There is also less water in Hydro-Qu茅bec's reservoirs at the moment due to a three-year drought.
"During peak periods, the needs of our customers in Quebec are prioritized,鈥 Hydro-Qu茅bec spokesperson Lynn St-Laurent said Thursday in an email.
The utility said it suspended deliveries to Massachusetts over the weekend and for one hour on Tuesday morning. In a followup email, St-Laurent said the utility had also "curtailed" exports on Friday due to persistent cold weather.
"We are doing our utmost to maintain full deliveries; however further curtailments cannot be excluded given the very challenging weather conditions we are facing," St-Laurent wrote.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs said it is aware of the "historic constraints" faced by Hydro-Qu茅bec during the period of extreme cold.
"We have been in touch with Hydro-Quebec as New England also contends with cold temperatures," spokesperson Maria Hardiman wrote Thursday. "We know they are working to resume full delivery of power as quickly as possible, and have continued to provide power at various times in the past few days.鈥
The temporary halt happened less than a week after the opening of the New England Clean Energy Connect line, which connects Quebec's network to Massachusetts via Maine.
Hydro鈥慟u茅bec鈥檚 bid was selected to supply 9.45 TWh per year to the state over a 20鈥憏ear period, under a deal signed in 2018. The total revenues from the contract are estimated at $16 billion.聽
However, the deal was signed when Hydro-Qu茅bec was in an energy surplus. Since then, demand has grown, forcing the provincial Crown corporation to seek ways of increasing production to meet future energy needs.
The Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs indicated it is considering imposing penalties on the Quebec provider.
While the contract includes a provision for penalties in cases when Hydro-Qu茅bec doesn't meet its obligations, the utility said none had been imposed as of Thursday.
"According to the contractual provisions, events such as those occurring over the weekend, during a peak period, may exempt us from potential penalties," St-Laurent wrote.
This report by 国产诱惑福利 was first published Jan. 30, 2026.
国产诱惑福利
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