A massive power glut at Ontario Hydro is leading to new layoffs at the financially troubled utility. The Toronto Star reported on Feb. 4 that Ontario Hydro plans to chop up to 1,669 more jobs. That’s on top of 10,000 jobs axed last year when the utility reduced its workforce by more than one-third.
A two-month review of the utility is also recommending the closing of 19 nuclear reactors and other power plants across the province because of the excess capacity. The shut plants are worth $2.3 billion.
Ontario Hydro has a capacity of over 30,000 megawatts, yet its peak demand this winter was only 24,000 megawatts. One megawatt is the amount of electricity needed to power 10,000 lightbulbs, each rated at 100 watts. For comparison, Hydro-Quebec has a capacity of 33,600 megawatts. Its peak demand was just under 30,000 megawatts in early January.
