I heard that part of the reason the OPA decided to reduce the rate on ground mounted solar was that some companies had applied for thousands of microFIT contracts along rural roads where the existing hydro infrastructure could not accept the capacity. This would mean large costs to upgrade the system.

I can appreciate that the OPA wanted to streamline the application process, so they left the LDCs (local hydro distribution companies) out of the application loop. If they now include them, they can simply restrict application approvals, based on system capacity. This would limit what individuals and companies apply for. Reducing the rate to all applicants is simply unfair.

I have a rural customer that wanted to put 10kW on their property, but could only put 5kW on their roof, so they thought to put the additional 5kW on the ground. Now that the reduced rate is proposed, half of their production will be at 26% less, and that portion will cost more to install. So what do you think they did? Yes there is going to be another 5kW less green energy produced in Ontario. This on its own is not significant, but combined with everyone else that feels the same, the impact to the program will be substantial.

The current rate reduction solution to whatever the full reasons to propose it should be reconsidered to address the actual cause.

I also have a problem with the argument that the profits earned at the old rate are excessive and could compromise the program. I think the OPA needs to start looking at the real cost of our current energy production methods verses green energy produced by whatever means we can.

If the OPA had to pay to clean up 100% of the pollution created every time we turn on a coal fired power plant, what would the cost of our electricity be? What if theye were responsible for the polution created on the electricty we buy outside of the province as well? If the OPA had to pay the full cost of totally eliminating the nuclear waste that is produced by our nuclear plants, or if the full cost of building the nuclear plant (including R&D or whatever other hidden costs are paid by taxpayers) was calculated into our electricity costs, what would we be paying for power?

The cost that the OPA pays us for the green energy we produce covers all of this. There is no pollution to cleanup, no hidden costs that we pay through taxes, it is just the cost that the OPA determined they could pay participants in the program, for the clean energy they produced.

The rate reduction is not the solution, so fix it properly and lets get producing green energy.