Simcoe County municipalities eye sale of local hydro companies

Simcoe.com
Dec. 29, 2016
By John Edwards

While the cost of electricity was a topic of discussion, who delivers that electricity has continued to make news in Simcoe County.

Several local distribution companies, owned by municipalities, made headlines in 2016.

PowerStream, which includes the City of Barrie among its owners, announced a merger with Hydro One Brampton, Enersource and Horizon Utilities to form a new company.

PowerStream also owns a 50 per cent stake in Collus PowerStream in Collingwood. Collingwood started mulling over bids for the other 50 per cent stake in December.

Innisfil had a deal to sell half of InnPower to a Edmonton-based EPCOR, but the deal was pulled off the table in April.

Midland Council hired consultant Mark Rodger and sent out a request for proposals for Midland Power Utility Corporation in November and is expected to start looking at those offers in 2017.

Wasaga Beach saw a large backlash to the decision to move forward with a potential sale of Wasaga Beach Distribution. Council is expected to decide in April whether to sell the utility.