A new date has been set for an open electricity market in Ontario and the Fort Frances Power Corporation has to prepare.
In a statement in the Legislature last week by Jim Wilson, Minister of Energy, Science and Technology it was announced that the electricity market will be opened competitively in May of 2002.
The Tory government is going ahead with electricity deregulation in order to offer consumers more choice and create a strong business climate.
The Fort Frances Power Corporation, operated by the town of Fort Frances, is rushing to meet timelines in preparation for deregulation but has been delayed, in some instances by a lack of information from the province.
“I see some problems with some of their timelines,” noted Power Corporation CEO Mark McCaig. “Some of those timelines have not been met.”
“This is only the second semi-official date they set, before they set November 2000 as the date,” added McCaig who doesn’t know if a May provincial deadline will be too soon or not.
“It just all depends on the market participants and how they proceed with their market readiness,” he noted.
Meanwhile opposition to the open electricity market project sky-rocketing power costs for consumers as electricity is sold into the U.S. and demand increases.
“I couldn’t even speculate on that,” said McCaig. “You know that there was an increase just recently, it’s hard to tell.
“We’ve witnessed price volatility in California that’s for sure,” he added. “It could very well happen but it could just as well not happen.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
