Originally Posted by Novocastrian

I've been there too (just NW of Palm Springs). I honestly think it's beautiful.

Originally Posted by dbd33

Well, I have a practical suggestion. Ontario Hydro is a quango, the government can order it to change its policies. I suggest that the government order it to change its pricing policies so that power consumed is an important factor in the bill; they could charge so much per unit consumed rather than the current "high fixed cost minimal charge per unit" model. (e.g. our typical bill is $130 for being connected to the grid, $20 for power consumed, it should be $150 for units consumed, $0 for being connected).

This would encourage people to reduce energy usage and/or to deploy alternative energy sources. At the moment it's only worth using a home windmill or watermill or tidal thingy or galloping dogs in a treadmill if you can move the house completely off the grid. A price per unit model would instantly make all manner of small scale energy intiatives viable.

Originally Posted by Dashie

Near London.

Originally Posted by Shard

That is an odd pricing policy indeed. Is it because you are in a rural location or is that how it is throughout the province?

Originally Posted by Shard

What about other provinces?

Originally Posted by Shard

You are probably aware that in the Old Country we are being encouraged to use smart meters to monitor our real time use and reduce consumption/bills accordingly.

Originally Posted by Piff Poff

Thanks all for the suggestions of hotels and places to make sure we visit and those to avoid like the plague, it's been illuminating

Originally Posted by Piff Poff

Thanks all for the suggestions of hotels and places to make sure we visit and those to avoid like the plague, it's been illuminating

Originally Posted by Piff Poff

Thanks all for the suggestions of hotels and places to make sure we visit and those to avoid like the plague, it's been illuminating

Originally Posted by Piff Poff

We have a trip booked to Ontario to have a look see and try to narrow down areas to settle. We are basing this particular trip around southwest Ontario and the Niagara region. Was a bit disturbed by the Windfarm documentary on telly last night, I already know I don't want to live anywhere near one of those monstrosities, so that will be easy to tick off the list. Could mean Southwest Ontario is ticked right off the list looking at the proposal maps

We're planning on a doing the triangle from Toronto (airport) to Windsor and back to Niagara - anywhere we should pay attention to and anywhere we should avoid like the plague? And any particularly nice Niagara hotels recommended?

tia

Originally Posted by Tirytory

Aren't windfarms a necessary evil?

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

What wind turbines actually do is generate sustainable, affordable, non polluting energy.

Originally Posted by dbd33

You said you intended to go to Windsor. I've been to Windsor and recommend driving past and staying at the Red Roof Inn in either Ann Arbor or East Lansing.

Originally Posted by Shard

Prince of Wales Hotel at Niagara on the Lake is nice (in a Canadian Victoriana sort of way). Quite touristy though. That's all I know as I'm not an Ontarian (yet).

Originally Posted by iaink

Welcome to BE. If you stick around a while you will get used to the MO here.

Originally Posted by dbd33

You said you intended to go to Windsor. I've been to Windsor and recommend driving past and staying at the Red Roof Inn in either Ann Arbor or East Lansing.

Originally Posted by Simon Legree

Don't even bother going as far as Windsor. There are many wind turbines in that neck of the woods around Essex and Chatham.

Originally Posted by colchar

Relax, you can pick from countless places without worrying about wind farms. I live in southern Ontario and have never once seen a wind farm - not once. Yes wind turbines exist here, but our Liberal government has forced them on rural areas so, unless you plan to live in farm country (and even then only specific areas), you will be fine.