How We Verify Data

Data Sources

All data on Reach Data is sourced directly from recognized federal and provincial government institutions and regulated grid operators. We do not use estimates, industry lobby reports, or secondary aggregators as primary inputs. Where figures differ between sources, the discrepancy is documented and the most conservative or most widely cited figure is used.

• NRCan
  Natural Resources Canada

  Primary source for national energy statistics, installed capacity by fuel type, and generation mix data. NRCan's Energy Fact Book and Canadian Electricity Statistics publications are used for capacity and generation figures. Also used: NRCan's interactive Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference provincial profiles and the National Energy Use Database.
  Used for: Installed capacity (GW) · National generation mix · Clean energy percentage baseline
• CER
  Canada Energy Regulator (formerly National Energy Board / NEB, renamed 2019)

  The CER's provincial and territorial energy profiles and interactive Energy Future scenario publications are used for cross-validation of capacity and pricing data. CER annual reports are primary references for long-run trends and interprovincial energy flows.
  Used for: Provincial profiles · Long-run capacity trends · Interprovincial flow data · Cross-validation
• AESO
  Alberta Electric System Operator

  AESO publishes detailed market operations data, reserve margin reports, and annual generation statistics for Canada's largest deregulated electricity market. Wholesale price data is sourced from AESO market reports and the Annual Market Statistics publication.
  Used for: Alberta capacity · Wholesale pricing · Market reliability data
• IESO
  Independent Electricity System Operator (Ontario)

  IESO publishes Ontario's grid reliability metrics, generation mix, reserve margin, and annual reports. Ontario's industrial electricity pricing is cross-referenced against IESO data and Statistics Canada.
  Used for: Ontario capacity · Grid reliability (SAIDI/SAIFI) · Reserve margins · Generation mix
• Hydro-QC
  Hydro-Québec

  Hydro-Québec's annual reports, tariff schedules (including the Grande Puissance / LG large industrial tariff), and Strategic Plan publications are used for Quebec capacity, pricing, and long-term resource planning data. Hydro-Québec is both the primary generation and transmission operator for the province.
  Used for: Quebec capacity · Industrial rate (LG tariff) · Long-term resource plan data
• Other Ops
  Other Provincial Grid Operators & Utilities

  BC Hydro, SaskPower, Manitoba Hydro, NB Power, Nova Scotia Power, Maritime Electric (PEI), and NL Hydro / Newfoundland Power all publish annual reports and operational statistics used directly in this dataset.
  Used for: Province-specific capacity · Pricing · Clean energy profiles · Grid operator identification
• StatCan
  Statistics Canada

  Statistics Canada's Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution survey (CANSIM Table 25-10-0015-01) provides pricing and consumption data used to cross-validate industrial rate figures across all provinces. Also referenced: Statistics Canada Table 25-10-0060-01 (electricity from renewable sources).
  Used for: Industrial electricity pricing cross-validation · Consumption data · Renewable generation statistics

What We Measure

Installed Capacity (GW)

Installed nameplate capacity represents the maximum continuous output a generator can produce under rated conditions. This figure does not represent actual output or capacity factor — a 1 GW hydro facility and a 1 GW solar farm operate very differently in practice. Capacity is the foundational infrastructure metric.

Clean Energy Percentage

The clean energy percentage reflects the share of total electricity generation from non-emitting or low-emitting sources: hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, and solar. It does not include natural gas, coal, or oil generation. We use annual generation mix data (not installed capacity) to calculate this figure, since capacity factors vary significantly by source type.

Industrial Electricity Price (¢/kWh)

Pricing figures represent industrial average rates in Canadian cents per kilowatt-hour for large commercial or industrial consumers. These differ from residential rates, which are typically higher due to fixed cost allocation structures. Rates are annual averages; real-time market prices (Alberta's deregulated market, for example) can fluctuate substantially.

Grid Operator

Each province has a designated system operator or integrated utility responsible for transmission and market operations. These are listed as named reference points — not endorsements — to help users navigate official source material.

Update Frequency & Data Freshness

This dataset is updated quarterly, following the publication cycles of NRCan and provincial operators. Most official data lags real-time by 3–6 months due to the publication timelines of primary source agencies. The version displayed reflects the most recent available data as of publication date.

The current dataset reflects Q1 2026 figures. Material changes between updates are noted in the data table where relevant.

What "Q1 2026" means: Figures have been reviewed and verified against primary source publications as of Q1 2026. Some underlying source data (e.g., Statistics Canada CANSIM tables) may lag by one reporting period (typically 3–6 months). Where data is from a 2025 annual report, this is noted in the source attribution. Reach Data does not generate real-time figures or intra-quarter estimates.

Update Log

• Q1 2026: Current version. Full dataset review against NRCan, CER, and provincial operator publications. API launched.
• Q4 2025: Initial dataset publication. 10 provinces covered. Territories noted as out-of-scope.

Data Verification Process

Each data point follows a three-step verification process before publication:

1. Primary source retrieval: Figures are sourced directly from the named primary publication or dataset (NRCan, CER, provincial operator, Statistics Canada).
2. Cross-source validation: Where two or more independent sources report the same metric, figures are compared. Discrepancies are documented and the more conservative or more widely cited figure is used.
3. Reasonableness check: Figures are checked against prior-year data and adjacent provinces to identify potential data entry errors or anomalous values. Material outliers are traced back to source documentation before publication.

If you identify a figure that appears incorrect, contact mike@reachdata.ca with the source documentation. Corrections with primary source support are applied and noted in the update log.

Coverage Gaps

The three territories — Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut — are included as geographic reference points in the province selector but are not included in the main data table. The territories rely predominantly on diesel generation, operate isolated micro-grids, and report capacity and pricing in ways that are not directly comparable to provincial grid-connected systems. Territory-specific data will be added as a separate module when sufficient standardized data is available.