Category Archives: Utility Reform

Coal is cool again. Just ask Ralph

(February 9, 2006) It looks that way. The Alberta Department of Energy yesterday confirmed that coal, the lowly, grubby black stuff otherwise known as yesterday’s fuel, will make a star appearance in Premier Ralph Klien’s Throne Speech on Feb. 22. Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Power Industry | Leave a comment

Green talk

(December 7, 2005) Premiers Doer and Charest plead for meaningful action to cut greenhouse gas emissions (“Seize the climate-friendly day” December 7, see below). Continue reading →

Posted in Reforming Ontario's Local Electrical Distribution Sector | Leave a comment

Manitoba wastes electricity, and now gas, too

(November 6, 2005) Already overseeing the world’s most inefficient electricity consuming economy, Manitoba’s NDP government’s speech from the Throne sets a course to promote natural gas wastage as well. Continue reading →

Posted in Manitoba, Utility Reform | 9 Comments

What happened to my electricity bill?

(May 11, 2005) The results of this study were discussed in “Distribution adds the shock to electricity bills in Ontario” by Eric Reguly, published by the Globe and Mail on April 5, 2005. Mr. Reguly’s write-up led to an exchange of correspondence between a representative of the Ontario Energy Board and Energy Probe. Continue reading →

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Distribution adds the shock to electricity bills in Ontario

(April 5, 2005) Reading an electricity bill requires the skill of an accountant. In Ontario, there are two commodity charges. There are also regulatory, debt retirment and delivery charges. Continue reading →

Posted in Reforming Ontario's Local Electrical Distribution Sector | 1 Comment

Waiting for the Storm: Ontario’s Deteriorating Tranmission and Distribution Assets and the Privatization Alternative

(March 7, 2005) Report on the deteriorating state of Ontario’s power distribution and transmission infrastructure. The report was originally released in 2005. Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity, Reforming Ontario's Electrical Generation Sector, Reforming Ontario's Local Electrical Distribution Sector | Leave a comment

Pricing hydro by the season

(February 11, 2005) Ontario householders will pay less to heat their homes in winter but more to cool them in summer under a pricing proposal from the Ontario Energy Board. Continue reading →

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Smart meter cost may double

(January 27, 2005) Ontario householders can expect to pay an additional $3 to $4 a month for electricity to cover the cost of installing and running new “smart meters” throughout the province, the Ontario Energy Board says. Continue reading →

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Electricity rates will vary by household and season

(January 18, 2005) Consumer electricity prices will vary from season to season according to the amount of power a household uses, says the Ontario Energy Board. Continue reading →

Posted in Reforming Ontario's Local Electrical Distribution Sector | Leave a comment

Time to move energy-intensive industries offshore

(October 16, 2004) To counter the high energy prices that consumers now face, governments in Canada and the U.S. have been subsidizing domestic energy production. This dirty government business lowers the bill a little for consumers but raises it a lot for taxpayers, making us worse off in the exchange. Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Probe News, Reforming Ontario's Local Electrical Distribution Sector | Leave a comment