Hydro vulnerable to weather: IMO

Toronto Star- March 26, 2003
by John Spears — Business reporter

Ontario should have enough electricity to get through the next 18 months, helped by the planned return to service of several mothballed nuclear generating units, says the agency that runs Ontario's power grid.

But the Independent Electricity Market Operator, or IMO, warns extreme weather — very hot summer temperatures or very cold winter weather — could force Ontario to rely on imported power and strain the capacity of the transmission links between the province and its neighbours.

The comments are contained in the IMO's latest 18-month forecast, updated quarterly.

The new forecast notes Bruce Power says it will get two nuclear generating units back in service this spring, while Ontario Power Generation says one mothballed unit at its Pickering A nuclear station will return to service in June, several years behind schedule.

Several gas-fired generating stations are also expected to come on line in the next 18 months. If that's the case, the IMO says, supplies should be adequate and links with neighbouring states and provinces should be able to import enough power to make up any gaps, assuming normal weather.

The report notes demand for electricity has increased. The IMO expects to see a peak demand this summer of 25,580 megawatts of power. That would break the record, set last summer, of 25,414 megawatts.

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