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hydro, hydroelectric

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia, a large proportion of electric power is generated by hydroelectric dams. Thus, the name of the provincial power utility has traditionally included the abbreviated form Hydro (short for hydroelectric).

For that reason, many Canadians call electricity hydro.

  • During the ice storm of 1998 and for weeks afterwards, huge areas of Quebec and Ontario were without hydro.