The Sir Adam Beck II generating station in the Niagara River

The Sir Adam Beck II generating station in the Niagara River. Canada and the US regularly buy power for peak needs, but Ontario sells to the U.S at below cost.
Photo Credit: OPG

Energy sold at a loss: Ontario engineers say bad idea for the province

Excess energy sold to U.S at a loss, while prices here increase

Ontario is Canada’s most populous province, and with massive renewable hydro-electric power, a major reason for the province’s historic industrial success.

In fact, with abundant hydro, and added wind turbine and solar panel, the province produces much more power than it needs.

A huge field near Cornwall Ontario along the main 401 highway with acres of solar panels. Ontario pushed solar adoption with an expensive programme and now produces more power than it needs. Many say the cost of power should come down rather than sell excess to the U.S at a loss
A huge field near Cornwall Ontario along the main 401 highway with acres of solar panels. Ontario pushed solar adoption with an expensive programme and now produces more power than it needs. Many say the cost of power should come down and boost the economy rather than sell excess to the U.S at a loss © Google streetview

The excess is sold to the U.S. through a vast grid connecting the two countries.

In times of peak consumption Ontario will also import power from the U.S. and from Quebec.

Wind turbines are shown near Port Alma, Ont., near the shores of Lake Erie. With the addition of wind and solar, Ontario produces much more electricity than it needs and sells it at a loss to the U.S. © Dave Chidley/Canadian Press

But the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers says Ontario exports vastly more electricity than it imports and sells the power at well below the cost of production.

A new report by OSPE says that in 2016 this represented a nearly half-billion dollar loss for the province..

In a statement on the OSPE blog, Paul Acchione (P.Eng)., energy expert and former President and Chair of OSPE wrote  “Ontario ratepayers are essentially subsidizing hydro bills in places like Michigan and New York to the tune of $500 million per year.”

In the past year electricity rates have risen dramatically in the province as portions of the publicly owned system were sold to private investors. This has caused many business owners to question their long-term viability in the province.

A pedestrian stands under a hydro tower in downtown Toronto in November 2002. Electricity costs in Ontario have risen dramatically in spite of vast amounts of surplus
A pedestrian stands under a hydro tower in downtown Toronto in Nov 2002. Electricity costs in Ontario have risen dramatically in spite of vast amounts of surplus. OSPE says price of “green” hydro should be lowered to promote replacement of fossil fuels and boost economy © (Kevin Frayer/Canadian Press

The society says rather than export excess power at a huge loss, the rates should be lowered to encourage more businesses to set up in the province rather than drive them away.

It says cheap energy could be used to replace fossil fuels in many applications and to promote innovations in industry.

They also point out that part of the problem is that decisions regarding power needs and generation were made for political reasons and without adequate input from engineers.

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