Hydro bill

When I hear the Federal and Provincial governments talk about "green infrastructure spending" I just wish they would put some of that money into grants for the gas companies to expand their networks further out to rural areas where there just isn't a viable business case for them to expand on their own.

That is how high speed internet availability expanded in Eastern Ontario. The Federal and Provincial governments invested in 33% each of the cost. Internet providers like Cogeco, Bell and Explornet then all bid on sections of Eastern Ontario and the end result was 90% of the population got minimum 1.5 mbps internet.

To me spending tax dollars to expand the natural gas network will benefit more people than subsidizing solar and wind power generation. It would create employment and reduce hydro consumption by some of use high monthly kWh users.

Wouldn't that require a pipeline? Liberals and pipelines usually aren't often mentioned in a good way.

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Originally Posted by terrym

Wouldn't that require a pipeline? Liberals and pipelines usually aren't often mentioned in a good way.

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They would just be tapping into the existing TransCanada Pipeline. I have one within 7 km of my place but no distribution in my direction.

Not much we can do about it now. Down the road, I suppose the potential is there to buy back shares (lots of companies do that).

Energy prices are regulated, so atleast for the short term we can hope that profits and making shareholders happy, will be more a function of efficiency, controlling cost and better service. Something hydro 1 (and governments) isn't exactly known for......................

At the end of the day, remember the all important questions.
1) Why are they selling it
Answer: Much needed money and 'effeicencies"

2) Why is the money much needed
Answer: Because those in charge of the purse strings aren't fit to run lemonade stands.

3) Why then are they still in power
Answer: Liberal urban dwellers, vote buying and Unions

Why I fear the sale of Hydro One. I crossed the 407 from one end to the other and it cost $ 40.I just came back on Highway 90 west of Buffalo for $3.15 for 86 miles . Highway 407 is privately owned and highway 90 is state owned and this what will happen with hydro rates when hydro becomes privately owned, no control of costs.

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Originally Posted by Foxx

Why I fear the sale of Hydro One. I crossed the 407 from one end to the other and it cost $ 40.I just came back on Highway 90 west of Buffalo for $3.15 for 86 miles . Highway 407 is privately owned and highway 90 is state owned and this what will happen with hydro rates when hydro becomes privately owned, no control of costs.

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so you think the provincial government and hydro one have been doing a good job of controlling spending and keeping costs down?

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

so you think the provincial government and hydro one have been doing a good job of controlling spending and keeping costs down?

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Not at all, but when it is in private hands there will be no way a government will be able to control the rates.

Have you compared the state of the roads as well?
Granted I don't do a lot of driving in the States, but what little I have done is more than enough........Heck, don't even need to drive in the States to see (and feel) the difference. Cross the border into Quebec.....

Not a fan, at all of privatizing Hydro One, so don't get me wrong. But there are reasons for it, and those reasons really are the problem. Everything else is just an after effect.

Cause........and.....effect.

No-one to blame but

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Originally Posted by Foxx

Not at all, but when it is in private hands there will be no way a government will be able to control the rates.

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The government will always control the rates via the Ontario Energy Board.
There are already several privately owned hydro distribution companies, some of them owned by a huge Canadian owned company call Fortis. Fortis owns Cornwall Electric (which has cheaper rates than Hydro One) as well as owning Canadian Niagra Power, Algoma Power and Eastern Ontario Power.
There are several Municipal owned distribution companies as well like Ottawa River Power Corp that distributes hydro in Pembroke, Killaloe and Almonte. Renfrew Hydro in the town of Renfrew.

All hydro distribution companies whether it be Hydro One or any of the smaller local distribution companies mentioned above, all have to APPLY for rate increase to the Ontario Energy Board for approval. Occasionally they get denied their increases.

I struggle with the concept that the best interests of the people of Ontario were really being thought of when the government (Ontario Energy Board) is in charge of approving rate increase applications by Hydro One ( when it was 100% government owned crown corporation) Why would they deny themselves rate increases? How did we get to where we are today?
Simple answer, the Ontario Government completely mismanaged the hydro generation and distribution system in Ontario. The icing on the cake was "The Green Energy Act"

The only thing they got right was ending the use of coal for power generation.