Ontario’s Power Bill Is Secret

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As reported here two days ago, I have been seeking an updated near-term forecast for Ontario’s overall power bill — the so-called revenue requirement –from the Ontario Power Authority. Today, I received this refusal from the OPA.

After discussing your request with my planning colleagues, we feel the best source of the information that you are requesting will be the Long-Term Energy Plan which is expected to be released by the provincial government shortly. This document will contain the most up to date information.

The Ontario government’s 2010 Long Term Energy Plan omitted mention of the revenue requirement outlook for the province.

As I previously noted, the Wynne government’s commitment to “Open Government” does not appear to apply to Ontario’s electricity bills.

Post script November 1 3:15pm

Here is a previous report I published in the National Post based on a Freedom of Information request to the OPA to obtain an estimate of the revenue requirement current to a year ago.

6 Comments

  1. I was afraid that the OPA would have had to hire an outside firm to do the analysis as they did with the Oakville gas plant move so maybe they have saved us a few bucks?

    Now on the issue of waiting for the Long Term Energy Plan I wish they would change that name. The last LTEP was issued less than three years ago so why don’t they call it the Short Period Electricity Chart or (SPEC) which could be a short form version of “speculative planning” and that way when the Energy Minister of the day wanted to change things the public would understand?

    I sure wonder how they are going to handle those 21 Regional Plans that they now have to come up with. Probably have to get a huge budget increase.

    • Hi Parker. If considered a “living document”, the name LTEP would likely make as much sense to “Smart Grid” planners and stakeholders as would any of the alternative names for an ICSP to interdependent “Smart Growth” counterparts?

      How amazing Ontario didn’t just happen to be divided into 20 or 22 regions for planning purposes.

      If I’ve correctly interpreted one related “report”, the 21 regional plans will be handled on an “integrated” basis and have already been predetermined:
      http://www.ontarioenergyboard.ca/OEB/_Documents/EB-2011-0043/PPWG_Regional_Planning_Report_to_the_Board_App.pdf

      Although this document’s sector-specific language differs from that to which I’ve become accustomed, the planning “framework” appears so painfully familiar that I’d be willing to wager its “foundation” differs little.

      On the other hand: if that’s merely indication of my imagination getting too far ahead of my reading, I suppose there could be some chance of accurately pinning down the “revenue requirement” per region, after the fact to inevitable budget increases for more than the OPA.

      Once I’ve made my way through all else accessible from this overview page, perhaps I’ll be able to make a more educated guess (or not, lol):
      http://www.hydroone.com/RegionalPlanning/Pages/home.aspx

  2. The present government dosen’t want any definitive information out which could be used against them in an election. Things/issues will be dragged out as long as possible.

  4. Pingback: Ontario Government feverously hammers the last few nails in Ontario’s coffin!!!! | The Big Green Lie

  5. Pingback: Appeal of OPA decision to conceal Ontario's expected power bill | Tom Adams Energy - ideas for a smarter grid

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