Hydro rate debate

Regarding “Don’t unplug hydro rate debate” (April 25): The author seems to have it in for past and present Conservative governments, both in Ontario and elsewhere. While some of his opinions are factual, some are not, either by error, or omission. He is correct about: Hydro prices have increased by leaps and bounds during the past two decades. The PCs did launch electricity deregulation in Ontario. Enron was a fraud. Ford will not deliver on his hydro rate decrease promise. He is a politician. When politicians of all stripes dabble in the electricity business, bad things happen. He is incorrect or omits: The Alberta deregulated market is working. Alberta energy prices have been much lower than Ontario’s over the last decade. What has not worked in Alberta is the overbuilt regulated transmission and distribution system. Perhaps most importantly, Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals privatized Hydro One, overpaid and overbuilt wind and solar generation, resulting in a substantial portion, if not the majority of electricity price increases, during this century, not the Conservatives.

The author should get all his facts correct.

Richard Ronchka, Carlisle