Canada · Transmission

The east–west grid is a slogan. The north–south grid is a business.

Transfer capability toward the United States is measured in the thousands of megawatts on several borders. Several neighbouring Canadian provinces still shake hands at 150–250 MW. Open the corridor map →

International paths

FromToMW →MW ←
BC US (WECC) 3,150 3,000
Alberta US (Montana) 325 310
Saskatchewan US 150 150
Manitoba US (MISO) 2,858 1,400
Ontario US (MISO) 1,650 1,795
Ontario US (NYISO) 2,300 2,105
Quebec US (NYISO, existing) 1,999 1,999
Quebec (Hertel) New York City (CHPE) 1,250 0
Quebec US (ISO-NE) 2,270 2,170
New Brunswick US 1,145 719

Source: NRCan, Powering Canada Strong, May 2026, Figure 5 (total transfer capability).

Interprovincial paths

FromToMW →MW ←
BC Alberta 800 1,000 interprovincial
Alberta Saskatchewan 150 150 interprovincial
Saskatchewan Manitoba 175 325 interprovincial
Manitoba Ontario 260 250 interprovincial
Ontario Quebec 1,970 1,970 interprovincial
Quebec New Brunswick 1,029 785 interprovincial
NL (Churchill Falls) Quebec 5,428 0 1969 contract; Hydro-Québec takes ~85% of 5,428 MW until 2041.
New Brunswick PEI 300 170 atlantic
New Brunswick Nova Scotia 150 194 atlantic
Nova Scotia NL (Maritime Link) 475 475 atlantic

What actually moved in 2023

Capability is the pipe. 2023 was a dry pipe in the west. Net international exports by jurisdiction:

JurisdictionNet exports TWhGross exportsGross imports
Ontario 14.8 15.2 0.4
Quebec 12.1 13.4 1.3
Manitoba 6.1 7.2 1.1
New Brunswick 2.5 2.5 0.1
Newfoundland and Labrador 1.6 1.6 0.0
Saskatchewan 0.6 0.6 0.0
Nova Scotia -0.3 0.0 0.3
Alberta -0.3 0.6 0.9
British Columbia -10.2 6.6 16.8

Source: CER EF2026 interchange, GWh converted to TWh. Positive net = exporter to the US.

Proposed, under construction, and newly operating

CHPE is no longer a proposal. Gull Island and the Labrador West line are signed, not built.

ProjectStatusNote
Hertel–New York / CHPE (1250 MW) operating In commercial operation May–June 2026. 1,250 MW Quebec → New York City.
Appalaches–Maine under construction 320 kV HVDC Quebec–New England. Confirm in-service against HQ project page.
Wasoqonatl Reliability Intertie (NB–NS) development CIB equity committed.
North Coast Transmission Line (BC) announced Intra-provincial; enables LNG and minerals load. Referred to Major Projects Office.
Labrador West 735 kV (Churchill Falls–Labrador City) announced Part of 17 Aug 2026 Churchill package. Existing line is full.