Time of day rates suspended in Ontario

[ccudmore]

As of today, all electricity in Ontario is charged at the lowest off-peak rate. So not only is gas cheaper for the ICE cars, but our charging is on sale.
Province to lower hydro rates in response to COVID-19 pandemic

 

[Tessaract]

This is beneficial to all consumers, and a good gesture at this time.

I would be happier if I didn't suspect this is at least partly politically motivated by a temporary governing party seemingly intent on undoing all environmentally-motivated provincial programs, like technically sensible time-of-day electricity pricing.

 

[pcons]

Makes sense that they would do this on many levels.

Save people money who are forced to work from home

Looks good politically

The typical demand on the grid is way less with businesses mostly shut, so there is extra demand during the day

 

[corlaandstan]

Makes sense that they would do this on many levels.

Save people money who are forced to work from home

Looks good politically

The typical demand on the grid is way less with businesses mostly shut, so there is extra demand during the day

Not to mention there is a "basic" power generation in Ontario with the combination of hydro & nuclear which cannot easily be scaled back in a short timeline. We may still be selling power to the USA at lower than generation costs to "balance" our grid!!!

 

[Tessaract]

Not to mention there is a "basic" power generation in Ontario with the combination of hydro & nuclear which cannot easily be scaled back in a short timeline. We may still be selling power to the USA at lower than generation costs to "balance" our grid!!!

Hydro can be scaled back quite quickly... just reduce the amount of water allowed into the turbine. I've seen it done, and it takes only a few minutes or so. It's nuclear that takes longer because of the thermal time constants of the nuclear reactor, heat exchangers, and the steam turbines. The same logic applies to gas and any other thermal generating plant as applies to nuclear, although the thermal time constant (rate of change of temperature) is slowest for nuclear.