Quebec's Major Power consumers say "Non" to Needless Wind Costs

Excuse my French, but ...Quebec's major power consumers aren't just taking the renewables crap being shoveled at them - and the rest of the province's ratepayers.

Those that understand French should probably avoid the google translation quotes below and go directly to Les grands clients disent non à l'éolien | La Presse

Here's the greatest hits from the Google translation:

Industrial electricity consumers have decided to challenge the decision of Marois government to continue to purchase wind energy, although Quebec does not need this energy.
A motion to dismiss was filed yesterday, the Régie de l'énergie by the Quebec Association of Industrial electricity consumers (AQCIE) to counter the most recent tender for 450 megawatts of wind energy.
This tender, which aims to support the wind industry in the East-du-Québec must be declared "invalid, unenforceable and ineffective," the petition says, because he did not seek to satisfy electricity needs.
Consumers do not have to pay more for their electricity because the government wants to help industry... 

"...We are not against economic development. If the government wants to help a sector, he does, but it does not make paying the bill by electricity consumers.   

Hydro-Quebec wants a 5.8% increase in its rates for 2014, of which 2.7% is justified by the wind energy it does not need purchase.

...In its application, the AQCIE recalls that the tenders for the purchase of electricity from private generators are designed to meet the electricity needs of Quebec. But Quebec does not need another tender for 450 megawatts of wind power today or in 2016 and 2017 when this energy becomes available.

In fact, Hydro-Québec expects to be surplus until at least 2027.

Bravo, AQCIE
Bravo!

Here, in the province next door, the Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario (AMPCO) has lobbied for the protection of its membership, with a notable success in the Class A global adjustment mechanism.
It is encouraging to see Quebec's major consumers calling out the government programming for what it is.  All of Ontario's ratepayers likely would have benefited from their province's business elite acting with similar honesty when threatened with the reckless contracting that has resulted in needlessly escalating rates.