April 17, 2014 – On April 14, 1944, the Quebec government passed the act creating the Quebec Hydro-Electric Commission a.k.a. Hydro-Quebec. Happy anniversary!

Hydro-Quebec says this initiative led to improved customer service, standardized rates for consumers and the launch of major hydroelectric development projects in the Côte-Nord.

Fall 1962 was a pivotal time for the utility and Quebec: the provincial government proposed the nationalization of all power utilities during an election campaign under the slogan “Maîtres chez nous” (masters in our own house). On May 1, 1963, Hydro-Quebec bought up the shares of 10 private electric companies then serving various regions of Quebec.

Today, Hydro-Quebec operates 61 hydropower generating stations with an installed capacity of 36,068MW, manages 34,000 km of transmission lines, supplies 4.1 million customers and controls assets worth $73.1 billion.