Integrated vs. Unbundled

The Canadian industry was traditionally made up of integrated companies encompassing functions from generation through to the customer, although this is now changing in several jurisdictions. In many cases the integrated companies are increasingly functionally unbundled to accommodate wholesale competition. In several provinces, however, the various components are structurally distinct. This is true in Newfoundland where generation/transmission and distribution/retail are embodied in wholly separate entities. Most notably, in the two provinces which have moved to full retail competition (Ontario and Alberta) there is a great diversity of structural models with functions for the most part unbundled.

In most provinces there is emerging a number of independent power producers. This is especially true in Ontario and Alberta.