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Power Failure: Addressing the Causes of Underinvestment, Inefficiency and Governance Problems in Ontario's Electricity Sector

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  • Michael Wyman

Abstract

Economic and policy problems plague Ontario’s electricity sector six years after the government’s initial attempt at market liberalization in 2002. Several changes of direction later, the electricity sector has a hybrid structure of regulation and market forces, with a central procurement role assigned to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). This paper questions whether a central procurement approach represents the best means of achieving a well-functioning electricity sector and, if not, what better approach exists.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Wyman, 2008. "Power Failure: Addressing the Causes of Underinvestment, Inefficiency and Governance Problems in Ontario's Electricity Sector," C.D. Howe Institute Commentary, C.D. Howe Institute, issue 261, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdh:commen:261
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jaccard,Mark, 2006. "Sustainable Fossil Fuels," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521679794.
    2. Green, R., 1996. "The Electricity Contract Market," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 9616, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
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    Cited by:

    1. Arthur J. Cockfield, 2008. "Finding Silver Linings in the Storm: An Evaluation of Recent Canada-US Crossborder Developments," C.D. Howe Institute Commentary, C.D. Howe Institute, issue 272, September.
    2. Michael Wyman, 2014. "Rethinking Ontario’s Electricity System with Consumers in Mind," e-briefs 182, C.D. Howe Institute.
    3. Rosenbloom, Daniel & Meadowcroft, James, 2014. "The journey towards decarbonization: Exploring socio-technical transitions in the electricity sector in the province of Ontario (1885–2013) and potential low-carbon pathways," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 670-679.
    4. Peter W. Hogg, 2008. "A Question of Parliamentary power: Criminal Law and the Control of Greenhouse Gas Emissions," C.D. Howe Institute Backgrounder, C.D. Howe Institute, issue 114, August.
    5. Holburn, Guy L.F., 2012. "Assessing and managing regulatory risk in renewable energy: Contrasts between Canada and the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 654-665.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    governance and public institutions;

    JEL classification:

    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • L98 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Government Policy

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