Saskatchewan may consider a Standard Offer Program patterned after that in Ontario, according to recent report. While the report proposes a number of options, including a new “net metering” program for example, the proposal for a standard offer contract available to “independent power producers” could represent a breakthrough for renewable tariffs on the prairies.
The proposal by Saskatoon member of the Saskatchewan provincial parliament Peter Prebble is contained in a report to the premier of the province, Lorne Calvert, on December 13, 2006. Titled, A First Report on Making Saskatchewan a Canadian Leader in Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Development, the report notes that “While Saskatchewan does not need to offer 11 cents, if we want to facilitate investment in high environmental performance renewable electricity projects, we will have to increase our price offers.”
The “11 cents” is in reference to Ontario’s Standard Offer tariff for wind, biomass, and hydro of $0.11 CAD/kWh.
Prebble, the Legislative Secretary for Renewable Energy Development and Conservation, says in the report that a standard offer of at least $0.09 CAD/kWh should be considered. Nevertheless, Prebble suggests in the report that independent power producers should be limited to only 200 MW and it appears from the report that the tariff will be limited to biogas projects.
