Ontario signs contract to purchase electricity from United States

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The electricity to power your home this winter may come from an out-of-province source

Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) signed a deal to import 600 megawatts of American electricity just in case blackouts or brownouts occur in the province during the cold days.

“It’s very ironic,” Jack Gibbons, the chair of Ontario Clean Air Alliance, told reporters. “The Premier has been repeatedly threatening to cut off electricity exports to the United States. But now he goes and signs a contract to import power from the United States.”

The total value of the deal was not publicly announced. The province usually sells its excess electricity to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York.

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With the Pickering nuclear power plant receiving a refurbishment, the IESO says the American power will compensate for any possible shortcomings.

The government says the refurbishment project, which began last month, will extend the life of Pickering’s four CANDU reactors by up to 38 years, creating approximately 30,500 jobs annually during construction and 7,500 jobs across Canada over its lifespan.

Ford previously threatened to cut electricity to U.S.

About 18 months ago, Premier Doug Ford was on the front foot when it came to electricity and its availability to the U.S. market.

After the trade war broke out between the two countries, Ford said, “If necessary, if the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely.”

And the Premier doubled down with the same message this past summer.

“I think we start off with a surcharge. If it escalates, we have to use every tool in our toolbox,” he said.

Ford did not make a public statement regarding the purchase of U.S. electricity.

ganderson@postmedia.com

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