The Régie de l’énergie
1O years in the public interest
17,714
18,950
22,372
21,751
22,254
24,405
26,741
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
18,274
1997
17,633
2,165
2,158
2,279
2,898
3,577
4,311
4,977
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES $MILLION, CURRENT
2,753
indication of the significance of
energy. In 1997, capital spending
in the energy sector amounted to
$2.26 billion, less than 6% of total
investment in Québec. By 2005,
the figure had increased to an
estimated $4.98 billion, or 8% of
total capital expenditures.
1998
Capital expenditures are another
TOTAL ENERGY SPENDING $MILLION, CURRENT
1996
According to the latest available
figures, energy spending totalled
$26.7 billion in Québec in 2004,
up more than 45% from
$18.3 billion in 1997. This trend
demonstrates the importance
of energy to Québec’s economy.
2,260
The Régie de l’énergie
1O years in the public interest
The Régie de l’énergie works
independently and impartially to ensure
that consumer needs are satisfied at
a fair and reasonable price.
1997
Since 1997, the Régie has been reconciling
the public interest, consumer protection and
fair treatment of the electric power carrier and
of distributors, while promoting sustainable
development and equity.
SOURCES : MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLES ET DE LA FAUNE
AND RÉGIE DE L’ÉNERGIE
The Régie de l’énergie has been
regulating electric power transmission
and distribution in Québec for 10 years.
The Régie de l’énergie has been
regulating natural gas distribution
in Québec for 10 years.
5,639
5,458
5,631
5,462
5,841
5,559
6,495
6,324
6,319
1998
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1999
2000
177,933
180,404
185,545
187,155
199,602
2003
2004
2005
2006
3,958,760
2006
2002
3,894,323
2005
175,258
3,841,237
2004
2001
3,782,442
2003
174,038
3,732,714
2002
SOURCES : AREQ, HYDRO-QUÉBEC AND RÉGIE DE L’ÉNERGIE
2000
3,692,033
2001
170,316
3,662,811
2000
1999
3,638,310
1999
167,842
3,613,044
1998
1998
3,589,372
1997
TOTAL NUMBER OF CONTRACT-HOLDERS
167,056
between 1997 and 2006. During
the same period, the number of
accounts increased by 19.5% to
close to 200,000.
TOTAL NUMBER OF CONTRACT-HOLDERS
1997
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
The total volume of natural gas
sales decreased by 12.2%
all supplies above and beyond
that pool.
Between 1997 and 2006, electricity
sales increased 13.6% and the
number of accounts rose 10.5%
to nearly 4 million.
VOLUME OF NATURAL GAS SALES MILLION M 3
6,422
167,337
169,177
165,887
167,091
158,572
152,212
152,757
146,989
142,808
147,291
During that period, consumers
have seen wide fluctuations in the
commodity price of natural gas.
The price at Empress (in western
Canada) spiralled from $1.70 per
gigajoule in June 1997 to a peak
of $12.90 in January 2001 and
now stands at $6.76.
1998
rates, the creation of the heritage
electricity pool of 165 TWh,
the introduction of competition for
ELECTRICITY SALES IN QUÉBEC GWh
1997
Over those 10 years, there have
been far-reaching changes in
this area: the establishment of
economic regulation of electricity
transmission and distribution, the
lifting of the freeze on distribution
Natural gas
1997
Electricity
SOURCE : GAZ MÉTRO, GAZIFÈRE AND RÉGIE DE L’ÉNERGIE
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Régie de l’énergie
created on June 2, 1997
Opinion on wind
power and opinion on
rate-setting for electric
power released
Pricing principles for
electricity transmission
adopted
Incentive-based
rate-setting mechanism
adopted for Gaz Métro
First application filed
for creation of Hydro-Québec
Distribution comprehensive
energy efficiency plan
Electricity transmission
rates set for the first time
First rate application
filed by Hydro-Québec
Distribution
The Régie de l’énergie has been
monitoring petroleum product prices and
informing consumers for 10 years.
The role of the Régie de l’énergie is to safeguard the
public interest by balancing consumer protection and
the viability of the regulated energy companies in
monopoly markets, such as the distribution of natural
gas and electricity.
Petroleum products
101.6
2006
96.7
2005
85.7
2004
76.6
2003
71.9
2002
73.4
2001
76.4
2000
25,000
2,500
1,500
700
10
responses to enquiries
decisions
consumer complaints heard
days of hearings
years serving the public interest
PRICE AT THE LOADING RAMP AND WEIGHTED AVERAGE
PRICE OF REGULAR GASOLINE 1997-2007 ¢/litre
The Bulletin d’information sur
les prix des produits pétroliers au
Québec, published by the Régie,
reports changes in petroleum
product prices every week.
1999
1998
More than 20 billion litres of
petroleum products were consumed
in Québec in 2005, up 28% from
14.7 billion litres in 1997.
62.8
WEIGHTED PRICE OF REGULAR GASOLINE ¢/litre
56.2
Petroleum product prices have
varied considerably over that period.
The average annual price of regular
gasoline leaped 80% between
1998 and 2006, while the price of
Brent crude nearly quadrupled.
The Régie’s activities since 1997
140
120
100
80
60
@
www.regie-energie.qc.ca
40
To find out more about the Régie de l’énergie,
0
its role, its mandate, its people and its current
97-12
98-06
98-11
99-05
99-10
00-04
00-09
01-03
01-08
02-02
02-07
03-01
03-06
03-12
04-05
04-11
05-04
05-09
06-01
06-09
07-02
20
cases, or for information on the complaint process
for consumers of natural gas and electricity or
WEIGHTED
AVERAGE
PRICE
WHOLESALE
PRICE MONTREAL
BRENT
SOURCE : RÉGIE DE L’ÉNERGIE
2005
2006
2007
Opinion on Québec’s
energy security released
Contracts for first
990 MW block of wind
power approved
Amendments to Act respecting
the Régie de l’énergie: electricity
transmission network reliability
standards and expanded
mandate for energy efficiency
10th anniversary
of the Régie de l'énergie
1 888 873-2452
(514) 873-5050
(418) 646-0970
on petroleum product prices, please call us or visit
our website.
2004
Toll-free :
Montréal area :
Québec City area:
email : secretariat@regie-energie.qc.ca
REQ_JUIN-07