Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) owns and operates a diversified portfolio of regulated and non-regulated generation, distribution, and transmission assets, as well as hydroelectric generation assets.
AQN’s operations are organized across two business units consisting of: the Regulated Services Group, which primarily owns and operates a portfolio of regulated electric, water distribution and wastewater collection and natural gas utility systems and transmission operations in the United S...
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) owns and operates a diversified portfolio of regulated and non-regulated generation, distribution, and transmission assets, as well as hydroelectric generation assets.
AQN’s operations are organized across two business units consisting of: the Regulated Services Group, which primarily owns and operates a portfolio of regulated electric, water distribution and wastewater collection and natural gas utility systems and transmission operations in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Chile; and the Hydro Group, which consists of hydroelectric generation facilities located in Canada that were not sold as part of the Renewables Sale.
Regulated Services Group
The Regulated Services Group primarily operates a diversified portfolio of regulated utility systems located in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Chile serving approximately 1,265,000 customer connections as of December 31, 2024. The Regulated Services Group seeks to provide safe, high-quality and reliable services to its customers and to deliver stable and predictable earnings to the Corporation.
Hydro Group
The Hydro Group generates and sells electrical energy produced by its 14 hydroelectric generating facilities located in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec, with a combined gross generating capacity of approximately 115 MW and a net generating capacity of approximately 111 MW.
Regulated Services Group
The Regulated Services Group primarily operates a diversified portfolio of regulated utility systems located in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Chile, serving approximately 1,265,000 customer connections as at December 31, 2024.
The Regulated Services Group’s regulated electrical distribution utility systems and related transmission and generation assets are located in the U.S. states of Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma, as well as in Bermuda, which together served approximately 310,000 electric customer connections as at December 31, 2024. The group also owns and operates generating assets with a gross capacity of approximately 2.0 GW and has investments in generating assets with approximately 0.3 GW of net generation capacity.
The Regulated Services Group’s regulated water distribution and wastewater utility systems are located in the U.S. states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Missouri, New York and Texas, as well as in Chile, which together served approximately 577,000 customer connections as at December 31, 2024.
The Regulated Services Group’s regulated natural gas distribution utility systems are located in the U.S. states of Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire and New York, and in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, which together served approximately 378,000 natural gas customer connections as at December 31, 2024.
Electric Distribution Systems
Method of Providing Services and Distribution Methods
The electric utilities located in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, New Hampshire and Oklahoma are subject to state and federal regulation and rates charged by these utilities must be reviewed and approved by their respective state regulatory authorities and FERC in limited circumstances.
Principal Markets and Regulatory Environments
The Regulated Services Group operates electrical distribution systems in the states of Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, New Hampshire and Oklahoma, and in Bermuda under a cost-of-service methodology.
Selected Facilities
CalPeco Electric System
The CalPeco Electric System provides electric distribution service to the Lake Tahoe basin and surrounding areas. The service territory, centered on a highly popular tourist destination, has a customer base spread throughout Alpine, El Dorado, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas and Sierra counties in northeastern California. CalPeco Electric System’s connection base is primarily residential. Its commercial connections consist primarily of ski resorts, hotels, hospitals, schools and grocery stores. The CalPeco Electric System is regulated by the CPUC.
The CalPeco Electric System entered into a multi-year full services agreement with NV Energy that commenced in December 2020 and expires in December 2025. The full services agreement obligates NV Energy to supply the CalPeco Electric System with sufficient renewable power to, when combined with the output of the CalPeco Electric System’s Luning Solar Facility and Turquoise Solar Facility, balance the load requirements and use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy the current California Renewables Portfolio Standard requirement for the term of the services agreement. This agreement lowers fixed rates for customers, while providing the CalPeco Electric System the opportunity to add renewable generation capacity. The CalPeco Electric System received approval from the CPUC to recover the costs it will incur under this agreement as well as costs incurred to acquire, own and operate the Luning Solar Facility and the Turquoise Solar Facility. The CalPeco Electric System has also received approval from the CPUC to build a second solar generation facility (including a storage system).
Granite State Electric System
The Granite State Electric System provides electric distribution service in southern and northwestern New Hampshire, centered around operating centers in Salem in the south and Lebanon in the northwest. The Granite State Electric System’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial customers. The Granite State Electric System consists of approximately 2,219 circuit miles, 60 distribution circuits and 17 electric distribution substations.
The Granite State Electric System is regulated by the NHPUC and FERC. The Granite State Electric System is required to provide electric commodity supply for all customers who do not choose to take supply from a competitive supplier (Energy Service) in the New England power market and is allowed to fully recover its costs for the provision and administration of Energy Service under the Energy Service Adjustment Factor, as approved by the NHPUC. The Granite State Electric System must file with the NHPUC twice a year to adjust for market prices of power purchased. Additionally, the Granite State Electric System serves a borderline customer under a retail delivery service tariff approved by the NHPUC for which it charges distribution rates which are subject to FERC’s jurisdiction.
Empire District Electric System
Based in Joplin, Missouri, Empire is a regulated utility providing electric distribution, generation and transmission services in parts of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The largest urban area served is the city of Joplin, Missouri, and its immediate vicinity. The vertically integrated regulated electricity operations of Empire represent approximately 28.8% and 26.5% of the Regulated Services Group’s operating revenues and assets, respectively. Empire’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Empire also operates a fibre optics business. Empire is subject to regulation by the MPSC, the KCC, the OCC, the APSC and FERC.
Empire has various owned generation located in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. Its facilities include, among others, the approximately 150 MW North Fork Ridge Wind Facility located in northwestern Jasper County and southwestern Barton County, Missouri; the approximately 150 MW Kings Point Wind Facility located in Barton County, southwestern Dade County, northeastern Jasper County, and northwestern Lawrence County, Missouri; Empire’s share of the approximately 430 MW jointly-owned State Line natural gas fired thermal generation facility, located in Joplin, Missouri; the approximately 250 MW Energy Center, a natural gas fired thermal generation facility located in Sarcoxie, Missouri; Empire’s share of the approximately 200 MW jointly-owned Iatan 1 and 2 coal-fired thermal generation facilities located in Weston, Missouri; the approximately 300 MW Neosho Ridge Wind Facility located in Neosho County, Kansas; the approximately 300 MW Riverton natural gas-fired thermal generation facility located in Riverton, Kansas; and Empire’s share of the approximately 50 MW jointly-owned Plum Point coal-fired thermal generation facility located in Osceola, Arkansas.
BELCO Electric System
BELCO is the sole provider of electricity transmission, distribution, and retail services to all customers in Bermuda and is a bulk generator of electricity on the island. BELCO’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Its network includes approximately 1,000 km of high voltage distribution lines, approximately 600 km of low voltage overhead service lines, approximately 200 km of underground transmission cables and 34 substations.
BELCO has various owned reciprocating and gas turbine generation units with a combined capacity of approximately 140 MW. There is also a 10 MW Battery Energy Storage System.
BELCO is regulated by the RAB, the sole utility regulator in Bermuda.
Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems
Method of Providing Services and Distribution Methods
A water and/or wastewater utility company provides water distribution and/or wastewater collection and treatment services to its customers.
Principal Markets and Regulatory Environments
The Regulated Services Group’s water and wastewater facilities are located in the United States in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Missouri, New York and Texas, and in Chile.
Selected Facilities
Litchfield Park Water System
The Litchfield Park Water System is a regulated water and wastewater utility located in and around the cities of Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, and unincorporated Maricopa County, west of Phoenix, Arizona that has a service area that includes the City of Litchfield Park, sections of land located in the cities of Goodyear and Avondale as well as portions of unincorporated Maricopa County. Litchfield Park Water System’s operations consist of sixteen well sites, two reservoir sites, and approximately 500 km of water mains and distribution lines. Wastewater operations at the Litchfield Park Water System consist of two lift stations and approximately 400 km of collection mains to both the Palm Valley Water Reclamation Facility and the newly constructed Sarival Water Reclamation Facility. The Palm Valley Water Reclamation Facility has a permitted treatment capacity of 6.55 million gallons per day and the Sarival Water Reclamation Facility has a permitted treatment capacity of 4.5 million gallons per day. The Litchfield Park Water System’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The Litchfield Park Water System is regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission and uses a historic test year in the establishment of rates for the utility.
Liberty Park Water and Liberty Apple Valley Water System
Liberty Utilities (Park Water) Corp. (Liberty Park Water) provides, owns and operates water systems in Los Angeles County, California. Liberty Park Water also wholly owns Liberty Utilities (Apple Valley Ranchos Water) Corp. (Liberty Apple Valley Water), which is a regulated utility providing water utility services to customers in and around the Town of Apple Valley, California. Liberty Park Water’s and Liberty Apple Valley Water’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The Liberty Park Water system consists of approximately 423 km of pipeline, wells, eight booster pump stations, seven purchase water connections, and 6.9 million gallons of storage reservoirs and tank capacity. The Liberty Apple Valley Water system consists of approximately 777 km of pipeline, wells, 8 booster pump stations, and 12 million gallons of storage reservoirs and tank capacity. Liberty Park Water and Liberty Apple Valley Water are regulated by the CPUC and use a forward-looking, multi-year rate plan.
Suralis System
Suralis is a water and wastewater utility company located in Southern Chile. The utility operates 51 potable water production systems, 29 sewage plants, approximately 2,357 km of drinking water distribution networks and approximately 2,043 km of sewage networks covering 31 municipalities in the provinces of Valdivia, Ranco, Osorno, Llanquihue, Chiloe and Palena in the regions of Los Lagos and Los Ríos. The company indirectly owns approximately 68.073% of the outstanding shares of Suralis. Suralis’ customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Suralis is regulated by the Superintendence of Sanitary Services of Chile and is also subject to the jurisdiction of the Chilean National Consumer Service (SERNAC), being Chile’s consumer protection agency.
New York Water System
The New York Water System is a regulated water and wastewater utility serving customers across seven counties in southeastern New York. Operations include approximately 1,270 miles of water mains and distribution lines, 92 groundwater wells, 52 treatment stations and 41 tanks. Approximately 86% of the New York Water System’s customer base is residential, with 98% of customers located in Nassau County on Long Island.
The New York Water System is regulated by the New York State Public Service Commission.
Natural Gas Distribution Systems
Method of Providing Services and Distribution Methods
The interstate pipeline companies are regulated by FERC. The Regulated Services Group is also active in the RNG sector. RNG is pipeline compatible gaseous fuel derived from biogenic or other renewable sources that has lower lifecycle emissions than geologic natural gas. RNG is a ‘drop in’ fuel requiring no modification to company or customer equipment and provides a low to negative carbon lifecycle footprint. The Regulated Services Group has RNG projects in various stages of development across several gas distribution companies which are, or are expected to be, connected to the Regulated Services Group’s local infrastructure. The Regulated Services Group, through its gas distribution subsidiaries in New York and Georgia, has also entered into physical supply contracts for locally produced RNG which does not include the environmental attributes/credits associated with the RNG.
Principal Markets and Regulatory Environments
The Regulated Services Group owns and operates natural gas distribution systems under cost-of-service regulation in the states of Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire and New York and the province of New Brunswick.
Selected Facilities
EnergyNorth Gas System
The EnergyNorth Gas System is a regulated natural gas utility providing natural gas distribution services in 32 communities covering six counties in New Hampshire. Its franchise service area includes the communities of Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Keene, and Berlin. The EnergyNorth Gas System’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, industrial and transportation customers. The EnergyNorth Gas System operates and maintains approximately 2,410 km of underground distribution and transmission mains, approximately 70,484 service lines, and approximately 70 local and district regulator stations.
The EnergyNorth Gas System is regulated by the NHPUC. The EnergyNorth Gas System has a revenue per customer decoupling mechanism to recover lost distribution revenue associated with energy efficiency and to otherwise account for the effects of abnormal weather and economic conditions and includes a real-time weather normalization adjustment.
Empire District Gas System
EDG engages in the distribution of natural gas in Missouri serving customers in northwest, north central and west central Missouri. EDG’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, industrial and transportation customers. EDG is regulated by the MPSC.
Peach State Gas System
The Peach State Gas System is a regulated natural gas system providing natural gas distribution services in 15 communities covering eight counties in Georgia. The Peach State Gas System franchise service area includes the communities of Columbus, Gainesville, Waverly Hall, Oakwood, Hamilton and Manchester. The Peach State Gas System’s customer base primarily includes a mixture of residential, commercial, industrial and transportation customers. In addition, the Peach State Gas System has a 50-year privatization agreement to operate and maintain the natural gas system at Fort Moore.
The Peach State Gas System is regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission. The Peach State Gas System’s rates are reviewed and updated annually through a tariff provision called the Georgia Rate Adjustment Mechanism.
New England Gas System
The New England Gas System is a regulated natural gas utility providing natural gas distribution services in eleven communities, including Fall River, North Attleborough, Blackstone and surrounding communities, located in the southeastern portion of Massachusetts. The New England Gas System operates approximately 1,099 km of underground distribution mains. The New England Gas System’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The New England Gas System is regulated by the MDPU.
Midstates Gas Systems
The Midstates Gas Systems own regulated natural gas utilities providing natural gas distribution services to approximately 203 communities in the states of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. The franchise service area includes the communities of Virden, Vandalia, Harrisburg and Metropolis in Illinois, Keokuk in Iowa, and Butler, Kirksville, Canton, Hannibal, Jackson, Sikeston, Malden and Caruthersville in Missouri. The Midstates Gas Systems’ customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, industrial and transportation customers. The Midstates Gas Systems are regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Iowa Utilities Board and the MPSC.
New Brunswick Gas System
The New Brunswick Gas System is regulated by the NB Energy Board and has a distribution network that includes approximately 1,250 km of underground distribution mains. The New Brunswick Gas System provides service to customers in 14 communities in New Brunswick. The NB Energy Board’s regulatory activities in the natural gas sector are primarily in relation to the New Brunswick Gas System which is the exclusive holder of the natural gas distribution franchise for the Province of New Brunswick, which expires in 2044 and is extendable for an additional 25-year period. The New Brunswick Gas System’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
St. Lawrence Gas System
The St. Lawrence Gas System is a regulated natural gas utility operating approximately 777 km of underground distribution and transmission mains. It distributes natural gas to customers in more than 20 communities in northern New York State, including the Villages of Canton, Malone, Massena, Potsdam and the City of Ogdensburg located in St. Lawrence County, Franklin County and a portion of Lewis County. The St. Lawrence Gas System’s customer base includes a mixture of residential, commercial, industrial, and electric generation customers.
The St. Lawrence Gas System is regulated by the New York State Public Service Commission. In a traditional rate case filing, the filing includes historical operating results (test year) and a 12-month forecast for the period the rates will be in effect (rate year).
Electric Transmission
Method of Providing Services and Transmission Methods
Electric transmission is the bulk transportation of generated electricity over long distances from a generating site, such as a power plant, to an electrical substation. Transmission lines move large amounts of power at a high voltage level to a substation for voltage step-down and on to a lower voltage distribution network resulting in electricity delivered to homes and businesses.
Principal Markets and Regulatory Environments
Empire’s transmission rates and services, electric wholesale sales of electric energy in interstate commerce, and its facilities are subject to the jurisdiction of FERC, under the Federal Power Act. BELCO’s transmission rates are regulated by the RAB.
Selected Facilities
Empire Transmission Facilities
The Empire electric transmission facilities are located within a four-state area of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and primarily consist of approximately 22 miles of 345 kV lines, approximately 404 miles of 161 kV lines, approximately 813 miles of 69 kV lines and approximately 18 miles of 34.5 kV lines.
Cycles and Seasonality
Electricity Systems
The CalPeco Electric System’s demand for energy sales fluctuate depending on weather conditions. The CalPeco Electric System is a winter-peaking utility. Above normal snowfall in the Lake Tahoe area may bring more tourists and may increase demand for electricity. The CalPeco Electric System has implemented a BRRBA rate mechanism that removes the annual variations of recorded revenues to confirm that it recovers its authorized base revenues (gross revenues less fuel, purchased power, and other non-base revenues) over each rate case cycle.
The Granite State Electric System experiences peak loads in both the winter and summer seasons, due to heating and cooling loads associated with New England weather. The Empire District Electric System experiences peak loads in both the winter and summer seasons, due to heating and cooling loads associated with weather in its service territory.
Water and Wastewater Systems
The Regulated Services Group attempts to mitigate the risk of reduced water usage by seeking regulatory mechanisms in rate case proceedings. Certain regulatory jurisdictions have approved regulatory mechanisms that address changes in the actual recorded water usage as compared to the authorized water usage. Not all regulatory jurisdictions in which the Regulated Services Group operates have approved mechanisms to mitigate reduced water usage and the resulting reduction in revenues.
Natural Gas Systems
The Regulated Services Group’s primary demand for natural gas from its natural gas distribution systems is driven by the seasonal heating requirements of its residential, commercial and industrial customers. The colder the weather, the greater the demand for natural gas to heat homes and businesses. As such, the natural gas distribution systems’ demand profile typically peaks in the winter months of January and February and declines in the summer months of July and August.
Hydro Group
The Hydro Group generates and sells electrical energy, capacity and renewable attributes produced by its portfolio of 14 hydroelectric power generation facilities located in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec.
As of December 31, 2024, the Hydro Group had a combined gross generating capacity of approximately 115 MW and a combined net generating capacity of approximately 111 MW. Approximately 87% of the electrical output is sold pursuant to long-term contractual arrangements which, as of December 31, 2024, had a production-weighted average remaining contract life of approximately 17 years.
Principal Markets and Distribution Methods
The principal markets in which the Hydro Group operates its hydroelectric generating facilities are Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec.
Selected Facilities
Tinker Hydro Facility
The Tinker Hydro Facility is located approximately 8 km north of Perth-Andover, New Brunswick and is situated near the mouth of the Aroostook River. The facility has a total operational nameplate capacity of approximately 33 MW.
In May 2024, all in-service PPAs and commercial and retail contracts in respect of the energy generated by the Tinker Hydro Facility were assigned to New Brunswick Energy Marketing Company, and, pursuant to a PPA entered into between Algonquin Hydro Holdings Corp. and New Brunswick Power Corporation on May 1, 2024, the full output of the Tinker Hydro Facility was contracted to New Brunswick Power Corporation for a 25-year term.
Dickson Dam Hydro Facility
The Dickson Dam Hydro Facility is located 20 km west of the Town of Innisfail, Alberta. The Dickson Dam Hydro Facility has a total nameplate capacity of approximately 15 MW, utilizing the infrastructure located at Dickson Dam and powered by the water flows of the Red Deer River. The Hydro Group sells all the power generated at the Dickson Dam Hydro Facility in the AESO market at market rates. Additionally, the Dickson Dam Hydro Facility generates environmental attributes that are sold into the Alberta market.
CÔte Ste-Catherine Hydro Facility
The CÔte Ste-Catherine Hydro Facility is located on federal lands with the right to divert water on the St. Lawrence River near the Town of CÔte Ste-Catherine, Quebec. The CÔte Ste-Catherine Hydro Facility has a total nameplate capacity of approximately 11 MW. The CÔte Ste-Catherine Hydro Facility has a PPA with Hydro-Quebec under which all power generated by the facility is sold to Hydro-Quebec.
Long Sault Rapids Hydro Facility
The Long Sault Rapids Hydro Facility is located approximately 25 km north of Cochrane, Ontario and is situated on the Abitibi River. The facility has a total nameplate capacity of approximately 18 MW (operational capacity of 16 MW). The Long Sault Rapids Hydro Facility is a joint venture partnership whereby the Corporation and N-R Power & Energy Corp. each hold a 50% indirect interest in the facility, with the Corporation acting as the operating partner. The Long Sault Rapids Hydro Facility has a PPA with the Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation under which all power generated by the facility is sold.
Seasonality
The Hydro Group’s operations are impacted by seasonal fluctuations and year to year variability of the available hydrology. These assets are primarily ‘run-of-river’ and as such fluctuate with natural water flows. During the winter and summer periods, flows are generally lower, while during the spring and fall periods flows are generally higher.
Corporate Development Activities
The Corporation undertakes business development activities primarily in North America. Such activities may include identifying, developing, acquiring, investing in or divesting of facilities and other complementary infrastructure projects, and acquiring, or divesting of, electric, water distribution and wastewater collection and natural gas utility systems.
Principal Revenue Sources
AQN owns, directly or indirectly, interests in electricity distribution utilities, natural gas and propane distribution utilities, water distribution and wastewater utilities and hydroelectric generation facilities.
History
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. was founded in 1988. The company was incorporated in 1988.