Fact Check: "The U.S. imports about 85% of its electricity from Canada."
What We Know
The claim that the U.S. imports about 85% of its electricity from Canada is misleading. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), while Canada has historically been a significant exporter of electricity to the U.S., the balance of trade has shifted recently. In 2023, the U.S. imported approximately 15 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity from Canada, a substantial decrease from 42 TWh in 2022. This indicates a significant reduction in imports, not an increase, and suggests that the U.S. is not reliant on Canada for 85% of its electricity needs.
In fact, the U.S. has become a net exporter of electricity to Canada for several months in 2023, with U.S. exports increasing by 70% year-over-year, while imports from Canada decreased by 36% (source-1). The total electricity imported from Canada in 2024 was reported to be around 27,220,531 megawatt-hours (MWh), which is significantly lower than the claim of 85% (source-3).
Analysis
The claim's assertion of 85% imports is not supported by current data. The EIA's reports indicate that the U.S. electricity imports from Canada have fluctuated and decreased significantly in recent years, particularly due to drought conditions affecting Canadian hydropower generation and lower natural gas prices in the U.S. making domestic electricity more competitive (source-1).
Moreover, the context of the claim lacks clarity regarding the percentage being referenced. The U.S. does not rely on Canada for the majority of its total electricity consumption; rather, Canada is one of several sources of electricity imports. The claim fails to specify whether it refers to total electricity consumption, peak demand, or another metric, which could mislead the audience.
The credibility of the sources used to make the claim is also questionable. While the EIA is a reliable source for energy statistics, the claim itself does not appear to originate from a reputable analysis or report. Instead, it seems to be an exaggerated interpretation of the data available.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The assertion that the U.S. imports about 85% of its electricity from Canada is incorrect. Current data shows that the U.S. has significantly reduced its electricity imports from Canada, and in some months, has even exported more electricity to Canada than it imported. The claim does not accurately reflect the current state of electricity trade between the two countries.