Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is a government-owned corporation that provides hydroelectric power for Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's installed generating capacity, 7427 megawatts (MW) is the fourth largest of all utility companies in Canada. Generating assets consist of ten hydroelectric plants, including the Churchill Falls hydroelectric plant, which is the second largest underground power station in the world with a rated capacity of 5,428 MW of power, one oil-fired plant, four gas turbines and 26 diesel plants. Every year, Hydro generates and transmits over 80 per cent of the electrical energy consumed by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians – over 6,487 GWh of energy in 2004.

In 1975 the Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission, a crown corporation originally established to assist in rural electrification, was renamed Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro Corporation (Hydro). Hydro is a crown corporation, owned by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Hydro generates, transmits and distributes electrical power and energy to utility, residential and industrial customers throughout the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is the parent company of the Hydro Group of Companies comprised of:

Churchill Falls Labrador Corporation Limited (CFLCo)
Lower Churchill Development Corporation Limited (LCDC)
Gull Island Power Company Limited (GIPCo)
Twin Falls Power Corporation Limited (TwinCo)

Generating Facilities

Hydroelectric Generating Stations

Labrador (5,428 MW)

Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Generating Station
Twin Falls Hydroelectric Generating Station (non-operating)

Newfoundland (1,254 MW)

Bay d'Espoir Hydroelectric Generating Facility
Cat Arm Hydroelectric Generating Station
Granite Canal Hydroelectric Generating Station
Hinds Lake Hydroelectric Generating Station
Paradise River Hydroelectric Generating Station
Upper Salmon Hydroelectric Generating Station
Roddickton Hydroelectric generating station
Snooks Arm Hydroelectric Generating Station
Venams Bight Hydroelectric Generating Station

Non-Utility Generators

Star Lake Hydroelectric Generating Station
Rattle Brook Hydroelectric Generating Station
Deer Lake Hydroelectric Generating Station
Exploits River (Grand Falls) Hydroelectric Generating Station
Exploits River (Bishops Falls) Hydroelectric Generating Station

Thermal (Diesel) Generating Stations

Labrador (32.8 MW)

Newfoundland (23.5 MW)

Thermal (Oil) Generating Stations

Newfoundland (490 MW)

Holyrood Thermal Generating Station

Gas Turbine Generating Stations

Labrador (27 MW)

Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Newfoundland (123 MW)

Highlights in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

1947 – George Desbarats hired as an engineering consultant to undertake a water power survey
1949 – Premier J.R. Smallwood promised to create a public utility
1954 – On June 22, the Power Commission Act was passed creating the Newfoundland Power Commission, what would become Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
1956 – George Desbarats began as Commissioner and sole employee of the Newfoundland Power Commission.
1956 - British Newfoundland Development Corporation (BRINCO) was formed to explore development at Bay d’Espoir and later Churchill Falls
1958 – Premier Smallwood announced his Rural Electrification Plan
1958 – John Ryan succeeds George Desbarats as Chair of the Commission
1961 – Frank Newbury becomes Chair of the Commission
1963 – Government passed the Rural Electrification Act, which established power distribution districts (PDDs) to assist non-incorporated municipalities to access electricity where feasible
1964 - George Hobbs becomes Chair
1964 – Bay d’Espoir Hydro Electric Development begins
1965 – Government signed an agreement with Newfoundland Light and Power to give it ownership of the rural lines connected to its system. Any future lines would be jointly constructed.
1965 – The Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission Act replaced the 1954 Power Commission Act and created the Newfoundland and Labrador Rural Electrical Authority (REA). The Act also provided for the establishment of a province-wide electrical code.
1966 – Bay d’Espoir Stage 2 began construction
1968 – Construction on Holyrood Thermal Generating Station began
1969 – CFLCo and Hydro Quebec sign the Upper Churchill Falls power contract
1971 – First power from Churchill Falls delivered to Quebec
1974 – Churchill Falls project was complete.
1974 – Wallace Read replaces George Hobbs as Chair of the Power Commission.
1974 - Government acquires part ownership of CFLCo from Brinco
1975 – Government reforms the Commission into the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro-Electric Corporation (Hydro)
1975 – Denis Groom appointed as President and CEO of Hydro
1975 – Government appoints Douglas Fullerton as the first Chairman of the Board of the Hydro Group of Companies.
1978 – Stage 3 of the Bay d’Espoir project was officially opened
1978 – Victor Young replaced Denis Groom as chairman and CEO of Hydro
1980 – Hinds Lake Hydro Electric Development came on stream
1981 – Roddickton mini-hydro generating station opened
1983 – Upper Salmon Hydro Electric Development plant opened
1985 – Cat Arm Hydro Electric Development opened making it the second largest hydro project on the island.
1985 – Cyril Abery replaced Vic Young as chairman and CEO
1989 – Paradise River Hydro Electric Development became operational
1989 – Hydro Place became the official headquarters for the Hydro Group of Companies
1991 – Cyril Abery resigned as chairman and CEO. He was replaced by David Mercer as President and CEO, while James Chalker assumed the duties of chairman of the board.
1995 – William Wells replaced David Mercer as President and CEO of Hydro.
1998 – Two small-scale private hydro projects at Star Lake and Rattle Brook were put into service
2003 – New 40 MW Granite Canal Hydro Electric Development officially opened

External links

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

Power companies of Canada | Newfoundland and Labrador | Crown corporations of Canada | Hydroelectricity