Younger Introduces Ratepayer Protection Act

October 31, 2011

 

(Halifax, NS) Today in the legislature, Liberal energy critic Andrew Younger will introduce the Ratepayer Protection Act.

 

“Nova Scotia Power has ridden rough shod over ratepayers in Nova Scotia,” says Younger. “The Dexter government and previous Conservative governments have stood idly by as power rates rose by 36 per cent over the last ten years - enough is enough.”

 

The Liberal bill will force NSP to conduct biannual performance and value-for-money audits, publish estimated and actual costs and prevent executive bonuses from being passed on to ratepayers. The bill will also require settlement hearings for General Rate Applications be public, and will limit the amount of regulatory costs passed on to ratepayers.

 

“We want NSP to look internally for savings before they ever try to increase rates,” says Younger. “Other businesses have to trim their fat and NSP should be no different - continually passing unexamined cost increases on to taxpayers is unacceptable.”

 

Younger says the Dexter government offered Nova Scotians no plan to deal with the 30 per cent increase in power sought by NSP over the next three years.

 

“The people of Nova Scotia deserve a government that acts,” says Younger. “Dexter is more than willing to go after teachers, students, universities, and hospitals and demand they make cuts - why won’t he do the same with Nova Scotia Power?”

“The Ratepayer Protection Act offers clear solutions and roadmap to combat Nova Scotia Power’s inability to reign in its spending and its desire to continually pass on costs to Nova Scotians. It puts ratepayers first, not shareholders.”

 

 

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