Letter to the Editor
Editor,
I note in Taylor Raffy’s letter there is something about saving a few dollars on the electric bill. Here is a little wake-up call. First, and I want the reader to remember this fact, that TC Energy in its presentations does not talk “COST” as they claim. They talk SELLING PRICE… the price the producer decides to charge the consumer. This figure, as always, is totally arbitrary. This letter will consider the true “COST” of the TC Energy proposal.
To describe accurately the “COST” of the proposal, the following “COSTS” have to be applied:
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The cost to build the site… my guess is several hundred million dollars,
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The cost to operate and maintain the site… my guess is several million dollars per year, and
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The cost to pump water up to the reservoir.
This money will be paid by consumers in Ontario. For that true “COST” the Ontario consumer will, for every TWO megawatts of energy used to pump water up to the reservoir, get a return of perhaps ONE megawatt back.
Where is the up side to this proposal? Indeed, if you assess this proposal closely, there is no option but to raise the overall price of hydro to the Ontario consumer to cover the additional “COSTS” this facility will incur. By the way, if you want a good price, ask for the one that hydro charges its U.S. customers.
Paul Wehrle, Meaford
