When frazil ice forced the shutdown of generation at the Bay d’Espoir Hydroelectric Generating Station during a period of extreme cold, Hydro’s electricity system lost a major source of supply at a time when demand was very high. Responding to that challenge required expertise from across the organization, including a team whose work is rarely visible to customers – our Energy Marketing team.

Under normal conditions, Energy Marketing manages how Hydro buys and sells electricity, balancing local needs with opportunities in external markets so the province benefits from its energy resources. During the frazil ice event, that role shifted quickly.

With a large portion of generation unavailable, Resource and Production Planning (RPP) requested Energy Marketing began work to help source non-firm electricity imports from outside the province to support the system. What followed was a period of intense, around‑the‑clock effort, focused on one goal: securing power when and where it was available. RPP’s primary responsibility is to maintain the security of supply for the system. Therefore, when a very large facility, such as the Bay D’Espoir Hydroelectric Generating Station, suddenly shuts down, and if there isn’t enough generation elsewhere on the system to meet load requirements, they will request Energy Marketing to seek imports on their behalf.

To guide those efforts, the Resource and Production Planning team worked with the Newfoundland and Labrador System Operator (NLSO) to develop a picture of system conditions in real time by assessing Hydro’s current generation and forecasted demand. They also worked to identify ways to reduce load. This included requesting residential customers to conserve energy through Power Watch and Power Warning notifications coordinated by our communications team, while our business development team reached out to industrial customers to request additional reductions beyond existing curtailment agreements. Using this information, RPP provided ongoing direction to Energy Marketing on how much electricity should be sourced from external markets – often adjusting those targets hour by hour as conditions changed.

Real-time and Around the Clock

Energy Marketing began by working with our closest utility partners, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, relying on established relationships to secure available power. However, during extreme cold, demand rises across the entire Atlantic region, meaning neighbouring utilities are often facing similar pressures. As temperatures continued to drop and options became more limited, the team expanded its search to broader electricity markets in New England.

Securing power from distant sources added complexity, demanding close coordination across multiple generation and transmission systems. Energy Marketing worked to adapt plans continuously, with nearly half the team responding in real time as conditions changed. Traders, marketers, supervisors, and leadership maintained constant communication, adjusting shifts and working overnight and through the weekend. Power purchases could only be secured in short-term blocks, sometimes as little as one-hour intervals, requiring frequent monitoring and quick decisions.

As Bay d’Espoir generation was gradually restored, RPP requested Energy Marketing to cease external purchases as system conditions improved. Eventually the NLSO was able to deliver emergency exports to Nova Scotia to assist them to support their increasing load requirements. Once the system conditions improved, Energy Marketing were able to return to their normal operations.

Steady, Critical and Collaborative

Much of this work happens quietly behind the scenes, but its impact is significant. During the Bay d’Espoir frazil ice shutdown, Energy Marketing, supported by close collaboration with RPP and the NLSO, helped secure the electricity needed to support our province at a critical time.

When asked what they thought was the most important factor of success during this event, almost every team member cited communication and collaboration. This coordinated response highlights how many different skills, perspectives, and hard-working individuals come together to power our province and serve our customers, even when conditions are at their most challenging.

---

Frazil Ice and our Power System: The trouble with frazil

Frazil Ice and the Power System: Keeping customers informed when it matters most

Frazil Ice and the Power System: How our teams respond in the NLSO