Ontario to Open Electricity Market

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Canoe

HAMILTON (CP) -- Despite two previous delays, Ontario's Conservative government is now confident it can open its electricity market to competition by May 2002, Premier Mike Harris said Monday.

Still, even the latest schedule is contingent on four key conditions: consumer protection, business conditions favouring a reliable energy supply, environmental protections and support for alternative sources of power.

"We said we won't (end the monopoly) until we're assured of a safe, reliable and affordable supply of power," he told a lunch-time meeting of the city's chamber of commerce.

"We're confident that by May 2002, conditions will be very favourable for a successful market opening in the province of Ontario."

The Tory government had originally promised competition would come by November 2000. That deadline was later extended to May 2001.

The government appeared to hesitate earlier this year after continent-wide power shortages caused hydro rates to triple in a deregulated Alberta market as well as rolling blackouts in California.

(snip)

Ontario NDP Leader Howard Hampton said competition is not only a raw deal for customers but also for the quality of air, water and soil.

"It's a dirty deal for consumers, for industry and for the environment."

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), April 23, 2001


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