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Toronto -- The Independent Power Producers' Society of Ontario has reacted positively to the news that the Report of the Select Committee on Ontario Hydro will recommend more stringent oversight of Ontario Hydro.
"There is no doubt that the most important priority in this area will be to minimize new Hydro spending in the remaining period of its monopoly," said IPPSO President Al Barnstaple. "To the extent that increased scrutiny by the Ontario Energy Board will help with that, we support the recommendations of the Committee."
"It's quite clear from the Select Committee proceedings that Hydro can't implement its nuclear recovery program without increasing rates or further increasing its debt. A major point we tried to make to the Select Committee was that any increase in Hydro's debt would become stranded and would frustrate the ability of the future competitive market to lower electricity costs for consumers. This fact, combined with the unsatisfactory record of nuclear spending and performance in the past, leads to the conclusion that further public spending should not happen until competition is a reality."
A clear choice for the government would be to set further nuclear spending aside until Hydro can justify it in a competitive market.
Independent power producers say they could produce the same amount of power, given the opportunity, at less cost, and with much less risk to the public accounts. Barnstaple says, "that kind of competition from independents would produce not just cheaper power, but also help strengthen Ontario industry, including Hydro, for the competition it will face in the future. In addition, it would mean cleaner and more efficient power sources would be put to use, creating jobs and attracting investment to Ontario."
IPPSO is a non-profit organization representing over 400 individuals and companies involved in independent power production and related efforts such as equipment supply, consulting and environmental work. IPPSO members produce power from cogeneration, small hydro, wind energy, waste wood and other sources.
For further information: Al Barnstaple, President 416-224-9569 Jake Brooks, Executive Director 416-322-6549 Bruce Ander, Director 416-667-5724 Ian Mondrow, Counsel 905-629-9035 John Brace, Director 416-962-6262 Marion Fraser, Director 416-363-8011 Jeff Passmore, Senior Vice President 613-566-7005 IPPSO, The Independent Power Producers' Society of Ontario PO Box 1084, Stn. F, Toronto, Ont. M4Y 2T7 tel.: 416-322-6549 fax 416-481-5785 e-mail: ippso@web.net website: http://www.newenergy.org/newenergy/[ Sustainable Energy Home Page | publications | organizations | education | businesses | conferences | definitions | Internet links ]
Last update: December 17, 1997
URL:http://www.newenergy.org/newenergy/whats_new.html