The National Energy Board’s Electricity Exports and Imports Monthly Statistics for December 2009 is a document that is educational in showing the differences between Canada’s provinces and their electricity policies.
Table 2A contains, for Ontario, 37 “Sources” for exports showing totals of $518,512,069 for 14,779,854MWh, which is $35.08/MWh. Ontario’s public generator, OPG, appears to be affiliated with slightly under 13% of the transactions.
For Quebec, the total is $1,061,889,413 for 17,779,064 MWh – which is $59.73/MWh. There are only 7 “Sources” indicated for Quebec’s exports, and Quebec’s public generator, Hydro-Quebec, shows as being affiliated with over 82% of all transactions. Quebec exported 38% more electricity than Ontario did, and received 136% more money for it.
Where Quebec and Ontario Shared export markets, Quebec collected 30% more, per MW, in New York, and 55% more in New England. New England is Quebec’s largest market, and they averaged $61.53/MWh for their product there. Michigan is Ontario’s (slightly over half), and we averaged $31.77 for our exports there.
It appears to me that the best thing for Ontario to do would be to cut a deal with Quebec to take all our excess generation – instead of dumping it in Michigan. They fill the reservoirs, and sell it at higher prices.
It’s not a very attractive policy, but it would get Ontarians a little better value. That would be better than the current consideration of the Ontario consumer.
C’est rien.