I work for Ontario Power…

I work for Ontario Power Generation however these comments are my own opinions and not those of Ontario Power Generation.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit to the LTEP process.  Here are a couple of points that I believe should be considered when developing and implementing the plan.

The Darlington Refurbishment is critical and should proceed as scheduled.  It will add $89 billion to Ontario's economy over the next 30 years and provides cost effective reliable power.

Extending Pickering into 2022/2024 will provide a backstop for refurbishments at both Darlington and Bruce.

Fighting climate change is important, and government has a leadership role - however the current electricity energy mix is now about 90 per cent free of GHG.  The plan should look at ways of reducing GHG in other sections - heating, industry, and transportation.  Take a holistic approach across all sectors to ensure the reductions are achieved in the most cost effective manner.  If spending $1 billion in industry achieves twice the reduction in CO2 or methane that spending $1 billion in electricity infrastructure would achieve - spend the dollars in industry.

Electrification may be the way of the future.  That means that Ontario should not lose sight of long term clean sources of electricity, including hydro in the far north (Albany River, Moose River Basin) and new nuclear at Darlington.  Both would provide considerable economic benefit to Ontario during construction and operation.

Existing GHG-free generating sources (especially hydro) should be maximized, refurbished, and considered before any new generation.  Existing proven storage, like pumped storage at Niagara, should be maximized for the benefit of consumers.  Having generation that can deliver at times of day when most needed is critical.  We should be investing in electricity that is dispatchable not in forms of electricity that require enormous investments in unproven electricity storage.

Electricity produced here in Ontario benefits Ontario through wages paid to Ontarians, spin off spending by generators and their staff, goods and services purchased in Ontario, and taxes paid to Ontario and Canada.  When electricity is imported from Quebec, dollars go out of Province.  A holistic approach should be taken when comparing a $ spent for MWh from Quebec vs $ spent for a MWh from an Ontario generator.

Consideration should be given to moving some of the costs for electricity and gas infrastructure into the tax base - so that tax payers pay their share of the benefits clean reliable electricity brings.  For example, savings in the Health Care sector from closing coal are paid for by the rate payer although the benefit is to taxpayers.  The downtown Toronto Financial Industry and retail businesses derive enormous benefits from having a reliable electricity supply.  (imagine brownouts on Black Friday or Boxing Day and the impact on sales) - far greater than what they pay for the electricity they consume.  Transmission infrastructure, pipeline infrastructure is similar to roads - they benefit everyone.  In my home I have several taxpayers living with me, but I'm the sole ratepayer.  Moving some costs to the tax-base would help reduce the price paid for electricity and better reflect the societal benefits of clean electricity.

Thanks for the opportunity to submit my views.

[Original Comment ID: 197419]