Electricity Exports Generate Revenue for Ontario

Ontario clean energy exports leverage an interconnected power grid, renewable energy, and conservation to sell surplus electricity, replace coal with wind, solar, and bioenergy, support jobs, and strengthen a reliable wholesale market and transmission network.

Ontario's electricity market generated $13 million in December by exporting electricity to other states and provinces, bringing total net export revenues to over $277 million this year.

Ontario is part of an interconnected North American power grid that allows the province to buy and sell electricity with states and other provinces. Being interconnected gives the province the opportunity to pursue electricity exports when it's not needed by Ontario families and businesses and benefit from these revenues.

Since 2006, the electricity market has generated export revenues of $1.8 billion through net exports compared to 2002 and 2003 when Ontario paid $900 million to import power.

Ontario is replacing dirty, coal-fired plants with cleaner sources of power like wind power generation across Ontario, solar and bio-energy. It is part of the McGuinty government's plan to keep costs down for families today, while building a clean, modern and reliable electricity system for tomorrow.

Ontario's investments in clean energy and conservation are on track to create 50,000 clean energy jobs by the end of 2012. Over 20,000 jobs have already been created as a result of our plan.

In December 2011 alone, the Ontario electricity market generated net export revenues of $13 million, even as power prices went below zero during certain hours. This is based on export revenues of $19.2 million minus imports of $6.2 million.

Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator operates the wholesale electricity market, balancing supply and demand because producing power requires energy and careful coordination to ensure system reliability.

Ontario's high-voltage transmission grid is connected to Manitoba, Quebec, New York, Michigan and Minnesota.

Between 1995 and 2003, Ontario's electricity system lost 1,800 megawatts of power, the equivalent of Niagara Falls running dry.

Since 2003, Ontario has brought more than 9,000 megawatts of new electricity supply online. That's enough power for over two million homes. Through the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit, the government is taking 10 per cent off electricity bills for five years, beginning January 2011, to help families, farms and small businesses manage the costs of turning on more clean power. The Ontario Clean Energy Benefit will save the average family about $150 per year.

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