Fact Check: Can Canada shut off electricity to the US causing massive blackouts?

WASHINGTON, DC: Rumors have been circulating across social media suggesting that Canada might shut off its electricity exports to the US, potentially triggering widespread blackouts.

This speculation gained traction after Ontario Premier Doug Ford remarked that “everything is on the table,” which could include halting power shipments southward if the ongoing trade battle intensifies. Let’s examine the validity of these assertions.

Claim: Canada could sever US electricity supplies and provoke massive blackouts

In a widely shared video posted by Ed Krassenstein, Ontario Premier Doug Ford indicated that Canada is ready to consider stronger countermeasures if the US trade dispute drags on. Ford emphasized that “everything’s on the table,” specifically pointing to electricity and critical mineral exports.

Accompanying captions on the video further alleged that Canada intended to specifically target “deep red states” to ensure the economic impact of the tariff dispute is deeply felt.

“Canada did not start this fight, but we’re prepared to win it. As for the electricity, everything’s on the table. Critical minerals, everything’s on the table.”

Furthermore, Ford cautioned that further escalation from President Donald Trump targeting key Canadian sectors like oil and potash would prompt a strong response, noting that Ontario could either hike power prices or halt exports altogether.

With Ontario currently providing electricity to roughly 1.5 million homes and businesses south of the border, Ford reiterated his resolve, stating, “Everything’s on the table. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Fact Check: The claim is misleading

While experts note that Canada does supply electricity to parts of the US and theoretically has the capacity to suspend those shipments, the assertion that doing so would cause nationwide blackouts is inaccurate. The US possesses alternative energy generation capabilities to compensate for any lost imports, though shifting to those sources would likely incur higher costs.

Barbara Kates-Garnick, an energy policy professor at Tufts University, clarified that a cutoff would manifest primarily as financial pressure rather than a complete loss of power for Americans. She stated, “We would see it in the market, we would see it in the prices, but we would not be bereft of electricity.”

Data from the Canada Energy Regulator indicates that Canada exported approximately $3.3 billion in electricity to the US in 2025, while American electricity exports to Canada totaled around $1.4 billion. In that same year, total US electricity generation reached roughly 4,430 terawatt-hours.

The US relies partly on Canadian power because it frequently offers a more cost-effective alternative to ramping up domestic production. Should those northern exports cease, American utility providers can pivot to alternative domestic sources, albeit at a steeper price tag for consumers.

Saleh ElHattab, founder and CEO of the energy management firm Gravity, underscored that Canada functions merely as an external supplier rather than a controller of American grid reliability. “They’re mostly a supplier; they do not control the actual availability of energy in our homes,” he observed.