Editing Economy of Ecuador (section)

== Electricity ==
As of December 2022, the generation and transmission infrastructure of Ecuador included:{{sfn|Master Plan|2023|p=4|loc=Capitulo 1: Resumen Ejecutivo}}
* total [[installed capacity|installed generation capacity]] of 8,864 [[megawatts]] (MW) that included
** 5,425 MW of [[renewable energy]] generation with
***  about 5200 MW of hydropower (in Ecuador, considered as renewable);
* National Interconnection System (SNI) that was able to use 7,472 MW of the total capacity above (including 4375 MW from renewable sources). The remaining 1,390 MW are not part of the countrywide grid;{{sfn|Master Plan|2023|p=6|loc=Capitulo 1: Resumen Ejecutivo}}
* National Transmission System (SNT) with line voltages 500 [[kilovolt]] (kV), 230 kV and 138 kV, 4,382 km of single-circuit lines and 2,462 km of double-circuit lines, including
** interconnection with [[Colombia]] (two 230 kV [[Jamondino]]-[[Pomasqui]] double-circuit lines and a 138 kV [[Tulcán]]-[[Panamericana]] single-circuit line);
** interconnection with [[Peru]] (a 230 kV [[Machala]]-[[Zorritos]] double-circuit line).

Distribution is provided through distribution companies with total billing of 2 billion US dollars and electricity losses of 13.25%. As of December 2022, they managed:{{sfn|Master Plan|2023|p=5|loc=Capitulo 1: Resumen Ejecutivo}}
* 370 [[substation]]s with total capacity of 8,545 [[megavolt-amperes]] (MVA) 
* 67 sectioning substations;{{clarify|date=December 2024}} 
* 5,730 km of subtransmission{{clarify|date=December 2024}} lines;
* 111,276 km of [[medium voltage]] lines;
* 105,469 km of [[low voltage]] lines
* 360,000 [[distribution transformer]]s  with a total capacity of 14,100 MVA;
* 5.56 million [[electrical meter]]s (coverage of 97.4%).

The [[peak demand]] on the SNI grid occurs in April (4,388 MW in 2022).{{sfn|Master Plan|2023|p=5|loc=Capitulo 1: Resumen Ejecutivo}} The total generation in 2022 was 33 [[terawatt-hours]] (TWh) with 87% delivered by SNI and the rest by provider unincorporated into the grid. The breakdown by the power source at the SNI was as follows:{{sfn|Master Plan|2023|p=6|loc=Capitulo 1: Resumen Ejecutivo}}
* [[hydroelectric]] 24.6 TWh (85.3%);
* [[fossil fuel]] 3.8 TWh (13%);
* [[biomass]] 0.35 TWh (1.2%);
* [[solar photovoltaic]], [[biogas]], [[wind energy]] less than 1% combined.

The amount of reported unavailable generation capacity varied between 1,170 and 1,610 GW in 2019-2022, approximately evenly split between hydro and thermal power stations.{{sfn|Master Plan|2023|p=12|loc=Capitulo 1: Resumen Ejecutivo}} The plan of r2023-2032 called for major expansion of the generation capacity, primarily renewable energy (additional 6,300 MW), but with 700 MW of "firm" (thermal) capacity scheduled to come on-line in 2024-2025.{{sfn|Master Plan|2023|p=14|loc=Capitulo 1: Resumen Ejecutivo}} This "firm" generation was intended for the [[electric grid security]] and "quality of supply".{{sfn|Master Plan|2023|p=16|loc=Capitulo 1: Resumen Ejecutivo}}

During the [[2023-2024 Ecuador electricity crisis]], in the fall of 2024, the amount of thermal generation was significantly lower than the numbers above would suggest. For example, according to Miguel Calahorrano, an ex-minister of electricity and renewable energy, only Trinitaria (125 MW), Machala Gas (125 MW), G. Zevallos (146 MW) and Jaramijó (140 MW) were operating at high power until October 15, 2024.{{sfn|Segovia Velasteguí|2024}}