Hydro-Québec | Water reserves reach a historic hollow

The Crown Company must import as much as it exports.

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After two years of drought that forced her to reduce his exports. Moreover, Hydro-Québec notes that his water reserves are currently at the lowest level ever recorded.

The water stored in its 28 tanks was equivalent last May to the production of 50.3 terawatt hours (TWH) of electricity, according to the most recent report on the state of the Hydro-Québec reserves. However, It is almost half less than the 97 TWh in reserve last year, which was considered very low.

Large Hydro-Québec reservoirs hydro-québec | water reserves reach may contain the equivalent of the production of 178 TWh of electricity. Nevertheless, an full year of consumption in Quebec. In addition, The 50.3 TWh therefore represent less than a third of this capacity. Therefore, A terawatt hour represents a billion kilowattheures.

The very low level of reserves forces the state -owned company to massively import. Moreover, electricity from neighboring networks to let its tanks fill. Nevertheless,

“With the period of low hydraulicity. with the two firm contracts which start next year, we have a very cautious strategy of our stock,” explains Maxime Nadeau, vice-president, control of energy movements and network exploitation.

The Crown corporation must deliver firm energy to New York (10.5 TWh per year) and Massachusetts (9.4 TWh per year) from next year, hence the urgency of reconstructing the reserves.

Since the start of the year, Hydro-Québec had to import as much electricity as it has exported.

“We have been quite a balance between imports and exports since the start of the year,” says Maxime Nadeau.

This strategy has a cost for Hydro-Québec. which, in addition to depriving itself of income from exports, must buy electricity on neighboring networks in summer, when prices are highest.

The cost of this reservoir filling strategy should be known when the next Hydro-Québec results are publishing. said the vice-president.

He points out that the company can choose to export when the current prices hydro-québec | water reserves reach are high. import when they are at the lowest. “The price is a super important factor,” he says.

Hydro-québec | water reserves reach

Relief in sight

The next report. on the state of energy stocks must be filed with the energy management at the end of the year. Hydro-Québec plans that the water level in its tanks will then be up to 114 TWh. thanks to the fall rains.

“We are comfortable with a forecast of 100 to 114 terawattheures at 1^is January 2026, ”says Maxime Nadeau.

Hydro-Québec must count on maximum reserves before the winter cold period. where electricity consumption is at its maximum in Quebec due to heating needs.

Last year, Hydro-Québec started winter with tanks at their lowest level for 10 years. The amount hydro-québec | water reserves reach of energy stored in large reservoirs with a capacity of 178 TWh was 97 TWh.

In 2025, Hydro-Québec provided for an average water supply “greater than the last two years,” said its spokesperson Pascal Poinlane.

While summer is coming to an end, “the tanks gradually fill up,” he said. We will be able to draw a better portrait of the year 2025 at the end of autumn. a period which is usually characterized by more water intake ”.

According to him, the level of filling of these tanks varies according to the region where they are located. Thus. the one who has the greatest capacity, the Caniapiscau tank, is only filled with 45 %, while that of the large is filled almost to the brim, he indicates.

“In northern Quebec. hydro-québec | water reserves reach some tanks have levels under historical averages while other tanks reach levels that are in historical averages,” said the spokesperson.

In the south. “despite the dry time observed this summer, the water level of our tanks, the Gouin reservoir for example, is clearly above the average”, due to the abundant rains of spring, he specifies.