Right wing think tank advocates sale of Hydro-Québec

Not surprising, of course, and hopefully the Quebec government won't listen, but still:

Hydro-Québec is racked by wretched inefficiency and would be better off to Quebec being privatized, according to a new study commissioned by the Montreal Economic Institute.

The long-awaited study, to be released Tuesday and authored by Claude Garcia, the retired former head of Standard Life's Canadian unit, is likely to reignite a political debate in Quebec about how to best exploit the province's vast hydroelectric resources.

Mr. Garcia last year estimated Hydro-Québec's market value at an eye-popping $130-billion, based on average North American electricity prices. Actually getting that much for Hydro-Québec, the developed world's biggest hydroelectric utility, would be unlikely, however, since power rates in Quebec are currently fixed well below market prices.

Hydro-Québec, a symbol of provincial economic prowess that took flight with the 1963 nationalization of the province's hydroelectric industry, currently charges deeply discounted rates to consumers in the province. Surpluses are sold to customers in the United States at market rates, but the highly profitable exports only account for about 10 per cent of Hydro-Québec's $12.3-billion in annual sales.

From the Globe and Mail.