Despite limited opening of Quebec's transmission grid, Hydro-Quebec's chances of a successful bid remain uncertain. But of the three, Hydro-Quebec appears to have the most to gain. All three utilities also insist there is more to gain from a marketer's license than profit. Anyone who benefits from electricity, they claim, will also benefit from increased power trading. Besides the obvious advantages of improving an already healthy trading relationship with Canada's neighbor, the increased revenues U.S. sales inevitably bring means that in the future hydro rates will not increase as much, or as often.
Consumer advocates agree.
At worst, they view the FERC applications as irrelevant, and at best, a continuation of surplus power-selling that has kept rates relatively low in Canada for years. Particularly in B.C. and Quebec, where nearly all generation is hydroelectric in origin, rates have been kept reasonable in part by border sales. Any chance to expand this source of revenue, supporters say, should be welcomed. It always has. In the end, the matter is out of their hands.