TORONTO -- Hydro One Ltd. reported a first-quarter profit of $225 million, up from a profit of $171 million a year ago.

The power utility says the profit amounted to 38 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31 compared with a profit of 29 cents per diluted share a year ago.

Revenue totalled $1.85 billion, up from nearly $1.76 billion in the same quarter last year.

On an adjusted basis, Hydro One says it earned 38 cents per diluted share for the quarter compared with an adjusted profit of 52 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2019.

The company says the drop in adjusted earnings per share was driven by a retroactive 2018 rate increase recorded in 2019 following an Ontario Energy Board decision.

Hydro One says to help customers affected by COVID-19 it has created a pandemic relief fund, extended its winter relief program, suspended late fees for all customers, and returned approximately $5 million in security deposits to eligible business customers.