TORONTO - Hydro One Ltd. reported its latest quarterly revenue and profit were up compared with a year ago as a hot summer helped bolster electricity demand.

The power utility says its net income surged 17 per cent to $281 million or 47 cents per share in the three months ended Sept. 30, up from $241 million or 40 cents per share a year earlier.

Revenue reached $1.9 billion, up nearly 20 per cent from $1.6 billion in the third quarter of 2019 due to higher peak demand and distribution revenues from rate hikes approved by the Ontario Energy Board and stronger consumption.

Analysts on average had expected a profit of 42 cents per share on $1.86 billion of revenues, according to financial data firm Refinitiv.

Purchased power rose 34.7 per cent to $993 million while revenue net of purchase was up 6.3 per cent to $910 million.

The Ontario government announced in its budget Thursday that it will subsidize hydro rates for medium and large commercial and industrial businesses and keep in place rate protections such as a ban on disconnections for residential customers.