Utilities

Ontario has opened its electricity market to private competition as of May 1, 2002. According to recent forecasts, Ontario has enough supply and our generation capacity is more than adequate to meet our current electricity needs. Electricity costs in Canada are the lowest among G7 countries as stated in KPMG's '2006 Competitive Alternatives'.

Natural gas is the major fuel for all sectors of the economy except transportation and is the primary fuel used in residential, commercial and industrial heating in the province. Because Canada is rich in natural gas supplies and has a widespread distribution network, Canadian consumers enjoy the some of the most affordable natural gas rates in the industrialized world.

The Regional Municipality of Niagara supplies water to the 12 local municipalities, which in turn provide local metering and distribution services at varying rates. The region also provides sewage treatment to the area communities, costs for which are based on the metered water consumption.

Please view the community data section for detailed information on utility contacts in each municipality

 

 

Electrical

Local electrical companies based in Niagara source power from the Ontario Hydro power grid and then supply power to end users.

In Niagara electricity must be purchased directly from one of the designated regional power authorities listed below.
 

Hydro One
Service Area: Thorold, Wainfleet

Phone: 1 (888) 664-9376
 customercommunications@hydroonenetworks.com
 www.hydroone.com
 

 

Canadian Niagara Power Inc.
Service Area: Fort Erie, Port Colborne

Phone: (905) 871-0330
 scott.hawkes@cnpower.com
 www.cnpower.com


 

Welland Hydro-Electric System Corp.
Service Area: Welland

Phone: (905) 732-1381
 info@wellandhydro.com
 www.wellandhydro.com


 

Horizon Utilities
Service Area: St. Catharines

Phone: (905) 984-8961
 info@horizonutilities.com
 www.horizonutilities.com


 

Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc.
Service Area: Niagara Falls, Lincoln, Pelham, West Lincoln

Phone: (905) 356-2681
 info@nepi.ca
 www.npei.ca


 

Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro
Service Area: Niagara-on-the-Lake

Phone: (905) 468-4235
 info@notlhydro.com
 www.notlhydro.com

 


Grimsby Power

Service Area: Grimsby

Phone: (905) 945-5437
 info@grimsbypower.com
 www.grimsbypower.com

 

 

Water/Wastewater

Both water purification and sanitary sewage services are supplied by the Region to local municipalities for distribution. An abundant supply of reasonably-priced water and electricity make Niagara a competitive location in Canada for industry. Niagara draws its water from the Great Lakes which form the largest group of freshwater lakes on earth. Utility services are provided to the property lot line, with companies responsible for connecting their facility to the servicing infrastructure within the site and at the lot line. Costs are dependant on particular site conditions.

 

Niagara Region

Department of Water and Wastewater
2201 St. David's Road
P.O. Box 1042
Thorold, On
L2V 4T7

Phone: (905) 685-1571

 

 

Natural Gas

Enbridge Gas Distribution is the largest Canadian gas utility serving our 1.7 million residential, commercial and industrial customers. Enbridge is committed to supporting the development of new and potential industrial business partners who have chosen to locate in the Region of Niagara. Enbridge will provide potential customers with the confidence their current and future natural gas requirements will be delivered to the selected site. If natural gas is not immediately available at the proposed site, Enbridge is prepared, after economic and technical evaluation, to install additional services or upgrade our exiting distribution system to meet the new customers' fuel requirements.

 

 

Telecom

Niagara's communications networks are efficient, affordable and among the best in the world.

Boasting a choice of long distance carriers Niagara has:

  • Leading Edge Broadband Networking Solutions, i.e. ISDN Public Access, ATM and IP VPN Private Networking Solutions

  • Extensive Fibre Ring Transport and Local Access Deployment throughout the Niagara Region

  • High-capacity Internet access

  • Intelligent network infrastructure through Common Channel Signaling

  • Dynamic routing

  • Seamless voice, video and data links with major U.S. carriers and Teleglobe

  • Excellent overseas networks

Local and long distance lines are 100% digital and long distance trunk lines serving Niagara are 100% fibre optic. Telecommunications companies serving Niagara offer a full range of voice and data telecommunications services including public and private line services and long distance - message toll and 800/888 service. Wireless services, including cellular telephone, radio-telephone (exchange or high frequency), PCS (personal communications services) are also available.