MONTREAL — Hydro-Québec and its New England partners are embroiled in a legal dispute over a power outage that occurred during the polar vortex last January and February. The state-owned utility was forced to implement power outages at that time, just a few days after announcing the commissioning of the interconnection line. Hydro-Québec has a contractual obligation to supply its customers in Massachusetts. The dispute centers on a clause that allows Hydro-Québec to temporarily suspend delivery due to “force majeure.” The state-owned utility maintains that the January cold snap constituted a case of “force majeure.” The electricity distributors Eversource, National Grid, and Until disagree. Hydro-Québec accuses the three utilities of taking the law into their own hands by withholding a payment of “approximately” US$40 million, according to a lawsuit filed in a Massachusetts court and reviewed by The Canadian Press. The Boston Globe first reported the news, and U.S. media outlets specializing in the energy industry. Hydro-Québec maintains it is owed payment, since “the energy was delivered and received,” the state-owned utility argues in a written statement. It asserts that it remains a “reliable” supplier and a “long-term partner” in the region. It was not possible to obtain an immediate response from the U.S. utilities. Speaking to the Boston Globe, a spokesperson for Eversource—which is also suing Hydro-Québec—said the goal was for a court to rule on what constitutes “force majeure” and to assess the financial damages. The issue has implications that extend beyond this single incident. Hydro-Québec and Massachusetts have signed a 20-year contract. The courts’ ruling could have financial consequences in the event of further outages caused by extreme cold. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 14, 2026.
