This report examines the flaws in long range forecasting of electricity demand which lead to failed planning. The great power system expansion plans put forward by Ontario Hydro in the mid-1970’s and then again in the late 1980’s never materialized because they were based on forecasts that turned out to be so far off the mark that none of the dozens of power plants proposed in those earlier efforts was ever built. This report presents similar flaws with current forecasts.
This document is part of a series of publications submitted to the Ontario Energy Board.