The Fair Hydro Plan: "The Times They Are A Changing"… Again

The Ontario government's March 2, 2017 announcement of its "Fair Hydro Plan" marks a historic shift in direction in an electricity sector that has witnessed many transformational events over the past 25 years.

Historical milestones include:

• Premier Bob Rae's appointment of Maurice Strong to restructure the former Ontario Hydro — 1993;
• The Macdonald Committee Report in 1995 recommending a market-based alternative to the old Ontario Hydro;
• Carl Andognini's 1997 report on major deficiencies at Ontario's nuclear reactors;
• Market Design Committee and Bill 35 that restructured the electricity sector — 1998 to 2000;
• Electricity Market opening/closing and the imposition of a province-wide electricity rate freeze — 2000-2002;