Nuclear Power Enables Ontario – Quebec Electricity Accord

OTTAWA (November 21, 2014) – The electricity-sharing agreement announced today by Ontario and Quebec should be good news for Ontario power consumers, according to the Canadian Nuclear Association.

The CNA president, Dr. John Barrett, said: “Keeping electricity prices as low as possible is important to Ontario’s industrial future and its high quality of life. Swapping electricity to meet peak demands in summer and winter makes good sense.”

“It also demonstrates the value of reliable nuclear power in Ontario,” Barrett added. “Quebec can be assured that the electricity will be available when needed.”

Under the agreement, Ontario would dedicate up to 500 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity to Quebec in the winter, when Quebec’s electrical demand peaks. Quebec would reciprocate when Ontario’s power demand peaks in the summer.

“Low cost is also the reason for Ontario to proceed with the renewal of ten nuclear reactors,” added Dr. Barrett. “As the province clearly shows in its Long-Term Energy Plan, a renewed nuclear fleet is the most cost-effective generation available to Ontario for meeting base-load requirements.”

Base-load generators operate around the clock, and in all seasons. Nuclear power is the backbone of Ontario’s electrical system, safely providing always-on power without generating climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions.

Ontario’s long-term plan, issued last year, confirms that renewed nuclear reactors will produce power at a lower relative cost than any other option – including natural gas, hydro, wind, solar or bioenergy.

Ten reactors, four at OPG’s Darlington plant and six at Bruce Power, are due for renewal between 2016 and 2031 – a major infrastructure investment that will create thousands of high-skilled jobs and extend the reactors’ operating lives by a quarter-century.

The nuclear industry and its suppliers directly employ some 60,000 Canadians — mostly in Ontario.

Industry members mine uranium, convert it into fuel, and design, build and operate nuclear reactors. The industry also drives innovations in nuclear medicine that improve our ability to detect and treat cancer and other diseases. Through innovative materials science, the nuclear industry improves the quality and safety of Canadian industrial products such as automobiles, aircraft, pipelines and more.

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For more information:
Malcolm Bernard
Director of Communications
613-237-4262 #110 or 613-612-0096