TORONTO - Ontario will start paying wind power generators Wednesday not to produce electricity, but the government says the move will actually save ratepayers big bucks.
Ontario has had a surplus of power since 2006, but until now, the province paid for all the electricity generated from industrial wind mills, even when it wasn't needed.
Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli says the system operator can now order wind producers not to generate power, and will pay them -- just as it pays Bruce nuclear -- not to produce electricity when it's not needed.
He says they are paid at a reduced rate that will save the province $200 million a year just on the wind mills.
Ontario has signed generous contracts with wind producers for about 5,800 megawatts of electricity, only about 1,500 of which is currently connected to the grid.
The Progressive Conservatives say paying wind power producers with 20-year contracts not to generate electricity shows the Liberals' green energy act "is a failed social experiment."
