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ARTICLE · 26 JANUARY 2024

Media Report Plans For Landmark Shift In Electricity Regulation By Authorizing Private Distribution

McCarthy Tétrault
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The Government of Québec appears to be on the cusp of a major transformation in its regulation of the electricity market in the province.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Canadian Energy Perspectives
Canadian Energy Perspectives
Louis-Nicolas Boulanger
Louis-Nicolas Boulanger
Mathieu LeBlanc
Mathieu LeBlanc
Jacob Stone
Jacob Stone
Xin Gao
Xin Gao
Elena Drouin
Elena Drouin
Author LinkedIn connections

The Government of Québec appears to be on the cusp of a major transformation in its regulation of the electricity market in the province. On January 19, 2024, news sources relayed that Energy and Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon and the Quebec Government plan to introduce a bill before the National Assembly in the coming weeks which could make significant changes to Hydro-Québec's long-standing quasi monopoly in electricity distribution.

The bill would legalize direct electricity sales between private parties. Hydro-Québec, wholly owned by the Province of Québec, is currently virtually the only entity allowed to sell electricity to consumers, with only some exceptions for a few municipal and private distribution networks which have grandfathered rights.

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