Hydro-Québec

Quebec's public electricity utility, one of North America's largest hydropower producers, contracted to deliver 9.45 terawatt-hours annually to Massachusetts. - Power supplier under 20-year contract

New England has paid some of the highest electricity prices in the country for decades, hostage to constrained natural gas pipelines that spike costs every winter. On January 16, 2026, a $1.6 billion transmission line began delivering 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the region—enough to meet 20% of Massachusetts' electricity needs and save ratepayers an estimated $50 million annually.

Updated Feb 1

Quebec's state-owned utility and North America's largest hydroelectric producer. - Power supplier under 20-year contract

For 40 years, Hydro-Québec wanted to sell more power to New England. For 40 years, transmission bottlenecks and local opposition stopped them. On January 16, 2026, a 145-mile power line through Maine's western woods began delivering 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydroelectricity to Massachusetts—enough to supply 20% of the state's needs and the largest clean energy transmission addition to New England's grid in decades. Ten days later, during a winter storm, the line went dark.

Updated Jan 30