Dammed If You Do: How Sunk Costs Are Dragging Canadian Electricity Ratepayers Underwater

Summary:
Page Title:Dammed If You Do: How Sunk Costs Are Dragging Canadian Electricity Ratepayers Underwater – C.D. Howe Institute
Article Title:Dammed If You Do: How Sunk Costs Are Dragging Canadian Electricity Ratepayers Underwater
URL:https://cdhowe.org/publication/dammed-if-you-do-how-sunk-costs-are-dragging-canadian-electricity-ratepayers-underwater/
Published Date:January 17, 2019
Accessed Date:February 13, 2025

Cost-overruns at several large-scale hydro projects in Canada raise questions about the economic viability of continuing construction to completion. In “Dammed If You Do: How Sunk Costs Are Dragging Canadian Electricity Ratepayers Underwater” author A.J. Goulding argues that government decisions to make such large investments in hydroelectric generating capacity must be scrutinized for economic soundness – particularly relative to the costs of alternatives for producing the power.

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