Enwin's CEO is not worried about the possibility of brown or blackouts this summer despite a report suggesting that could be an issue if demand for electricity peaks this summer.
A report by the North American Electric Reliability Commission in Atlanta, Georgia, suggested seven areas across the continent, including Ontario, could face shortages. The Toronto Star published a story on Tuesday that singled out Windsor-Essex specifically.
Enwin is a distributor of electricity, not a supplier. However, Garry Rossi said it has reached out to the Independent Electricity System Operator, which oversees suppliers across the province, and it doesn't anticipate any shortages.
Enwin Utilities truck, May 2022. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
"We haven't had any indication from the IESO that there's going to be an issue supplying power," said Rossi. "I know the NERC report references retrofits to the nuclear power plants, but there are buffers built in to allow for this type of activity to happen."
He also pointed to the alternative sources at the IESO's disposal should demand outstrip provincial supply, including sourcing power from across the border or other provinces.
Rossi said Enwin's historical peak for power was in August 2006, when the city drew 656 megawatts. Last year's peak was 427 megawatts.
"We obviously have had some changes in our customer load," he said. "A lot of the large manufacturing plants leaving since that time. From a system capacity, we're absolutely prepared."
As of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Ontario was using 14,677 megawatts of power and could supply 24,776 megawatts.
As for this summer ahead, Rossi said demand has been lower than even last year at the same time when new generation projects are coming online.
The Toronto Star report said the NextStar EV battery plant could pose a risk until Hydro One opens new transmission lines. Rossi said Enwin is supplying the construction site on Banwell Road, but Hydro One will take over once the plant is operational.
Although Rossi and other officials in Ontario disagree with the findings of the NERC report, Rossi doesn't dismiss it.
"We obviously pay attention to them," he explained. "It allows us to ask questions to the IESO and the Ontario Energy Board and the regulating bodies, but we have no concern at this point to be able to provide power to our customers based on what they're telling us."
