TORONTO, Nov. 13, 2006 -- Canada NewsWire

 

In a noon-hour speech today to the Economic Club of Toronto, the president of Ontario's largest electricity union proposed that the time has come to "clarify who the real regulator of electricity in Ontario is and cut the red tape to simplify planning and implementation."

Referring to the long-term electricity system restructuring and planning process now underway, via the generation of an Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP), Mr. Don MacKinnon, Power Workers' Union President, acknowledged to his audience of CEOs, government officials and other decision makers that the IPSP is a necessary exercise in "risk management to help people like you and me make realistic, hopefully profitable, plans."

"But," continued Mr. MacKinnon, "there's risk in the process itself.... Yes, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) will develop the plan. But first, the Premier and the government will determine the future supply mix. And then, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) will review and approve the IPSP. There are too many players involved and it's too complicated for individual users such as you and I to easily determine how to most effectively operate within this system."

"Now, just to complicate things a bit more," said Mr. MacKinnon, "another election's coming up and - for business, especially - electricity must be made a priority agenda item. It's time to simplify the electricity system in Ontario. Simplicity leads to better accountability and better decision making."

Mr. MacKinnon went on to suggest that, "Cutting the red tape and simplifying the planning and implementation process would go a long way towards reducing the regulatory risks encountered by many players in the province's electricity game."

Mr. MacKinnon proposed too that, to better facilitate risk management in its electricity system restructuring, the provincial government "needs to make good use of its existing assets." That initiative would include such activities as: the support of biomass co-firing in existing coal-fuelled generating plants; immediate investment in engineering upgrades and proven clean-coal technologies; and an acceleration of nuclear refurbishment.

The Power Workers' Union believes that Ontarians require an energy supply that derives electricity from a number of sources, including clean coal, hydroelectric and nuclear, along with other economical renewable options. The PWU's better energy plan - www.abetterenergyplan.ca - also includes a review of the province's natural gas strategy, investment in green power and the promotion of energy efficiency. This approach will guarantee the people of Ontario, and the businesses that operate here, an affordable, clean and secure supply of energy all year round.

The Power Workers' Union is the largest electricity union in Ontario, representing employees in electricity generation, transmission, distribution, regulations, and research and development.

SOURCE: Power Workers' Union

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