I am extremely concerned…

I am extremely concerned about the rapidly increasing cost of electricity which appears to have resulted from high priced wind and solar contracts. Whilst the wind power industry claims future projects would have lower costs, this fails to take into consideration than standby capacity must be paid for and idled to pick up load when wind power isn't available. As well, there are high costs associated with disposal of excess electricity produced by wind power when it isn't needed.

The fact is, electricity prices have been shooting up since Ontario Hydro was broken up.  We lost "Power at Cost" for the mistaken belief that privatization would be cheaper and more efficient. Plainly it isn't!

Our government must recognize that the only real force holding down electricity prices is publicly owned Ontario Power Generation.  However, once the Pickering nuclear power plant is phased out in the early 2020's, OPG will become a bit player in the Ontario electricity production industry, and will no longer be able to moderate cost of power. At this point the auctioning of power at spot market prices could cause catastrophic increases in electricity costs.

It's time for our government to wake up and realize that action is needed now to maintain or increase OPG's capacity via new nuclear plant construction, and if feasible, increased hydroelectric construction, both of which are carbon free.

As well we desperately need to cancel sales of Hydro One shares to avoid the added costs to cover profit that result of partial or full privatization.

Expand nuclear as part of Canada's green energy plan and, to the extent possible, put electricity production back in the public sector by maintaining or increasing OPG's capacity.

[Original Comment ID: 195845]