Younger: Power Rate Negotiations Should Be Public

 

August 24, 2011

 

(Halifax, NS) Liberal energy critic Andrew Younger says negotiations around power rate increases facing Nova Scotians scheduled for Thursday should be held in public and not behind closed doors.

 

“Thursday's meeting places even the non-confidential items at issue in this hearing under a cloak of secrecy,” says Younger. “This massive electricity price increase is an issue that impacts every Nova Scotian and every business in the province - it’s one that needs to be dealt with openness and transparency.”

 

Younger says as a result of concerns over secrecy, the Liberal caucus will not participate in Thursday’s closed door meeting.

 

Younger says Liberals oppose any rate increase given the current economic climate and the lack of any performance audit on Nova Scotia Power's operations.

 

“We’ve seen a 36 per cent increase in power rates over the last 10 years and now Nova Scotia Power wants another 20 per cent increase over the next three years,” said Younger. “These increases stretch budgets, put a strain on pocket books and make doing business in Nova Scotia unaffordable.”

 

Younger says NSP’s request for a higher rate of return should not only be refused, but the rate should be decreased given the fact shareholders now bear even less risk with things like the fuel adjustment mechanism and the use of Emera Utility Services for some technical work.

 

“People are losing jobs and businesses are shutting their doors - NSP’s rate of return should be reduced.”

 

Younger said he is sure that NSP can find internal savings and that is why the Liberals are pushing, as they have for months, to have a performance audit performed on the utility.

 

“Trim the fat before asking Nova Scotians to pay more - power rate increases hurt families, small businesses and large employers."

 

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