Hydro in power struggle

Ottawa Sun - Tuesday, March 4, 2003
By Sean McKibbon

ONTARIO'S electricity grid came perilously close to running short of power yesterday as authorities issued the province's first winter power warning since With a chunk of the province's generating capacity out of commission and record cold temperatures, Ontario's Independent Electricity Market Operator (IMO) pleaded with the public to turn down the thermostat or face power outages.

"Weather has a huge effect on our ability to operate electricity generation systems and a huge effect on demand," said Energy Minister John Baird at an afternoon media conference.

"I can promise that ... all hands are on deck to ensure electricity is online to provide the needs of Ontario," said Baird.

IMO spokesman Terry Young said the power warning was issued because of a combination of planned and unplanned shutdowns of generators, including a case of unspecified vandalism at a small generator.

The IMO warned that if demand exceeded supply, it could impose rotating outages. Consumers were asked to turn off all but essential lights and to lower thermostats on furnaces, baseboard heaters and space heaters. Outside Queen's Park, however, the large spotlights illuminating the Legislature continued to burn into the evening.

A Hydro Ottawa spokesperson said large consumers of electricity would be asked to reduce consumption but hospitals, seniors' residences and other important facilities would be spared from disruptions.

Consumption in the province was expected to hit approximately 23,500 megawatts last night, slightly short of the winter consumption record of 24,158 megawatts set in January.

Environment Canada said the temperature in Ottawa dropped yesterday morning to just below -29C -- only one degree shy of the record for the day, set in the 1950s.

Despite the chill, the uncertainty over electrical supply left local politicians hot under the collar.

PROVINCE SLAMMED

"We get warnings in the summer when it's hot, we get warnings in the winter when it is warm. Clearly, something isn't working," said Bay Ward Coun. Alex Cullen, who slammed the Ontario government for not investing more in new power generation facilities over the past 30 years.

Provincial Liberal Leader and Ottawa South MPP Dalton McGuinty said Ontarians need to conserve power, but he criticized the government for "failing to provide leadership with respect to energy conservation."

Energy Probe director Tom Adams said the problem is much bigger than a cold snap.

"You can't blame this one on the weather," said Adams. "The fundamental problem is the power system is very weak and we're not encouraging power customers to conserve."

Baird also released a $100,000 consultants' report on confusing hydro bills. It recommended the province draw up a standard, province-wide template for hydro bills.

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