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AltaLink misleads consumers with transmission increases

Dear Editor:

It is quite obvious AltaLink is misleading the ratepayer by saying our monthly electrical bills will increase by only $1.10 for the new transmission line. In fact, the ratepayer is being lead down the garden path by the nose.

During 2010, the transmission costs on our electrical energy bills increased by a whopping 122.3 per cent and this was done without any new infrastructure in place. The multiplying factor (the number with which the metered energy is multiplied by to determine the monthly transmission cost) as of January 2010 was 0.0118790. On the November 2010 invoice it was set at 0.0264190. To demonstrate the increase more clearly use an example consumption of 600 kWh. January 600x.0118790=$7.13, November 600x.0264190=$15.85. Many electrical suppliers do not show the multiplying feature on your bill but one only needs to divide your monthly transmission cost by the metered consumption (kWh). Take a look at the transmission portion of your January 2010 bill then fast forward to the latest one. Do the math and correct me if I am wrong because my math says the increase is 122.3 per cent.

When talking about new electrical infrastructure and the cost thereof we must also keep in mind that AltaLink’s Western Alberta Transmission Line is only one of five projects the ratepayer will have to fund. The $1.10 figure that AltaLink claims will be added to your monthly transmission cost is virtually meaningless. This is only an estimate of the capital expenditure for their one line and does not include the maintenance and operating costs. When factoring in all the costs of this project plus the other four projects it becomes very clear the series of increases in 2010 is only the beginning of what is in store for us.

If the transmission costs are allowed to increase as much as they have without any new projects think of how much they will balloon to when all these new transmission lines are built and in operation.

James Vetsch,

Rimbey