The sales plan for Hydro One isn't exactly going over well with local utilities.
Essex Power President and CEO Raymond Tracey feels it would be better for the province to offer the assets to local providers before a broad sell off.
"In our case and across other parts of the province, what makes most sense is a single provider in a single area. Let [Hydro One] focus on the transmission business and let us as local providers manager the overall distribution system," says Tracey.
Allowing local providers to take over Hydro One in certain communities means more efficiencies, according to Tracey.
"Single trucks running to do the service work, single assets and lines being built to service all the customers, not half the customers or 1/3 the customers," says Tracey. "Eventually that will lead to lower rates or more affordable rates and hopefully someday a common rate for all customers."
The Liberal government's plan to sell 60% of Hydro One is a bit surprising to Tracey as he says the province and providers have been talking for more than a year regarding the public asset.
"We thought early on that we had a real opportunity to obtain these assets across the province," says Tracey. "Then it seemed like there was an about-face turn and they turned to a model of privatization in order to raise funds."
Essex Power serves Leamington, LaSalle, Tecumseh and Amherstburg.
