MLA Joe Anglin, Wildrose environment and utilities critic, believes the Progressive Conservative government’s creation of the current electrical market leaves families and seniors at a disadvantage.
An excess of cheap electrical supply imported from British Columbia allowed for a brief period where the cost per megawatt-hour hit zero dollars between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. the morning of May 14.
Anglin pointed out residents on the regulated rate were suffering higher power prices during the winter months when costs were over-estimated and are still being hit hard now with their rate remaining more than twice as much as the actual cost of power.
“The current power market primarily benefits power producers and continues to fail families and seniors, especially those who rely on fixed incomes,” Anglin said. “With the construction of unnecessary power lines along with extra costs being tacked onto Albertans’ power bills, there needs to be a more concerted effort to make sure competition and the market is working for consumers.”
Anglin added the Wildrose supports bringing new ideas to the energy market that include reducing future transmission costs for consumers, reforming how electricity is bought and sold to reduce price spikes and encouraging the reduction of power by offering tax rebates for those who invest in energy efficient measures.
“It’s obvious that the current system we have in place is putting the interests of families and seniors on the backburner,” Anglin said. “For too long the PC government has sat idly by but it is our hope with their new government in place that we can work together to put forward much needed solutions.”