Winnipeg Free Press By: Tim Sale Opinion MOST Manitobans believe our province is currently awash in surplus electricity because Manitoba Hydro regularly exports about one-third of its electricity to other provinces and U.S. states. However, about 75 per cent of that export power is not contracted for long-term use, but is what’s called "wheeling power" — power that’s not needed to fulfil current needs, and can’t be counted on under all circumstances, such as a drought year. It is sold very cheaply, often for less than three cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), or about one-third of what we consumers pay.