|
|
Enron Mail |
Rob
What's the deal on Deregulation in Ontario. -----Original Message----- From: Presto, Kevin Sent: Fri 1/26/2001 12:29 PM To: Lavorato, John J. Cc: Subject: Fwd: Fw: Deregulation Delays FYI ---------------------- Forwarded by Kevin M Presto/HOU/ECT on 01/26/2001 12:32 PM --------------------------- Tom May@ENRON 01/26/2001 09:00 AM To: Kevin M Presto/HOU/ECT@ECT, Mark Dana Davis/HOU/ECT@ECT cc: Subject: Fwd: Fw: Deregulation Delays FYI, It looks like Ontario may be delaying the opening of the markets. I am not sure whether this will be more than the expected delay to a fall opening. Apparently, some of the media are speculating that it will be delayed until after the next election which is likely in 2003. Tom. < < Ken J. Nadeau < < Authorization Training Specialist < < ) ENTC, TSSD PO-6 < < % 701-3006 < < < < < < Subject: Deregulation Delays < < < < Tories study California electricity crisis < < < < Deregulation plans for Ontario delayed again < < Richard Brennan QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU < < < < Ontario is delaying its move to a competitive electricity market in the <wake < < of blackouts in California associated with deregulation, Premier Mike <Harris < < says. ``I think there are some steps that we are committed to do to <achieve < < the advantages of competition . . . but our primary concern is for our < < consumers and industries here in Ontario,'' Harris said yesterday. Both < < California and Alberta consumers have faced brown-outs and unexpectedly <high < < price hikes since their electricity markets were deregulated. ``There's <no < < artificial deadline that I can see but we are studying California, we're < < looking at Alberta, we're looking at what the other jurisdictions are < < doing,'' the Premier said. Critics have said California's problems stem < < largely from a botched 1996 deregulation plan - the first in the U.S. - < < which saw the establishment of two transmission utilities, Southern < < California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric, both of which are now < < claiming bankruptcy. Harris said California's rolling blackouts, have <been < < caused, in part, by a power shortage and high natural gas prices - neither < < of which, he said, will affect Ontario. ``We have a very low dependence <on < < natural gas so far in Ontario although we are looking at it into the < < future,'' Harris said, noting that the Pickering nuclear plant is expected < < to reopen next year, giving the energy supply a boost. Energy Minister <Jim < < Wilson said Ontario has delayed the market opening once and is prepared to < < do it again. ``We're aiming for later this year but if conditions aren't < < right for Ontario we won't move forward until we're satisfied we can bring <a < < market in that consumers will benefit from,'' Wilson said. Ontario's <market < < opening was scheduled for last November. No new date has been set. The < < electricity crisis in California is blamed in part on the American < < Northwest's limited supplies of hydroelectric power and on deregulation of < < its electricity industry. Wholesale prices on the open market soared and < < rate caps imposed under the deregulation plan have prevented utilities <from < < passing on those costs to customers. ``Given that we have the opportunity < < of learning from California and Alberta, and other jurisdictions, we are < < going to take our time,'' Wilson said, insisting that rate-capping is not < < being considered for Ontario. ``We don't want to get stuck in a supply < < crunch like California.'' But critics say the real reason behind the <delay < < is that the Harris government realizes that any hopes of consumers getting <a < < break in a deregulated environment have been dashed. ``I think that < < Ontarians' confidence in this plan has to have been shaken quite a bit < < because of the delays in the implementation here . . . and what we are < < seeing in California and to a lesser degree in Alberta,'' Liberal MPP <Gerry < < Phillips (Scarborough-Agincourt) said. Tom Adams, of Energy Probe, said <the < < longer the government drags its feet on deregulating the market the <greater < < the chance of power disruptions in Ontario. ``The further we delay the < < opening of the market the more likely power shortages are . . . because < < we're not building adequate new generation.'' < < < < < < < Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at <http://www.hotmail.com<; <<http://www.hotmail.com<;< .
|