Thomas Adams

June 29, 2000

At this time of uncertainty in our electricity restructuring, Ontario needs an energy minister who can protect consumers, restore investor confidence, restore the authority of the regulator, and protect taxpayers from politicized decisionmaking. Jim Wilson has undermined the fairness and efficiency of the market by grandfathering the industrial rate discounts to the detriment of small consumers and taxpayers. His legislation currently before the provincial parliament directed at the municipal electric utilities will not protect the long term interests of consumers. He is damaging the investment climate by capriciously changing the rules. His interventions have damaged the independence of the Ontario Energy Board which regulates our energy monopolies in transmission and distribution. Privatization of Ontario Power Generation’s (formerly Ontario Hydro) generating stations–which is necessary to the development of competition and is also required to resolve the conflicts of interest that have inhibited proper regulation of environmental performance in the past–is on hold. Energy Probe has lost confidence in Minister Wilson’s leadership and suggest that he should be removed. Given the ongoing damage to the restructuring and the magnitude of the challenges ahead, Mr. Harris should give the energy portfolio the attention it deserves to ensure that electricity reform is conducted in the public interest.