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Staff recommends returning GRDA agreement for up to 15 MW to stabilize Ottawa’s power costs
Summary
City staff presented a review of Ottawa’s electric portfolio and recommended returning a renewal of the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) allocation — currently 12 megawatts — with a base allocation up to 15 megawatts for formal consideration at the March 5, 2025 commission meeting. Commissioners expressed consensus; no formal vote was taken.
Ottawa City officials reviewed the city’s electric power portfolio on Feb. 26 and recommended returning a renewal of the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) agreement with a base allocation up to 15 megawatts for formal consideration at the March 5, 2025 City Commission meeting.
The presentation, led by Hans Secker, the city’s electric production superintendent, laid out Ottawa’s mix of hydro, wind, gas and market purchases, and explained how regional market dynamics and recent winter storms have driven volatility in wholesale prices. “GRDA is willing to extend the existing agreement with the same terms, the 12 megawatts that we have,” Secker said, noting staff’s recommendation to review and acknowledge the city’s current procurement structure and consider a base allocation up to 15 megawatts.
The discussion matters because the city’s mix of owned generation and long‑term allocations affects rate stability during high‑price events. Commissioners and staff…
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