Deciding Hydro's future--Market dominance could be threatened by price controls Ontario Hydro's dominance in the electricity generating market could be challenged if the committee advising the province on how to break up the Crown corporation's monopoly decides to recommend price controls on much of its output. The market design committee, set up to advise the Ontario government on the introduction of competition into the electricity market in 2000, will mull over a number of options this weekend aimed at eating into Ontario Hydro's dominance of the generating market. The utility controls nearly 90% of Ontario's electricity generation, which accounts for more than half of an average bill. Committee members opposed to such a monopoly advocate that a large proportion of Hydro's output be sold to electricity marketing companies at a fixed or capped price. Ontario firms race to bring green power to market But without regulatory caps on emissions, purchases of coal-fired power could increase total pollution ELECTRICITY CUSTOMERS BEWARE: BROKERS MAY BE TRYING TO SELL YOU A BILL OF GOODS POWER WORKERS' UNION GIVES FAVOURABLE INITIAL REACTION TO NEW ELECTRICITY ACT June 9 Ontario Hydro earns $500 million profit in first quarter May 29

BACK TO CANADA LABOUR NEWS FEATURES