From the Horgan campaign newsroom:
March 28, 2011VICTORIA—NDP leadership candidate and Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan today called on Energy Minister Rich Coleman to provide the public with details of his plans to review proposed rate increases at BC Hydro. Horgan made the call after BC Hydro adjourned a recent rate increase application hearing at the BC Utilities Commission Friday just as it was about to begin.
“British Columbians can take some comfort that government has finally realized that increasing residential electricity rates by 50% will have a devastating impact on BC families,” said Horgan. “But throwing BC Hydro and the BCUC into chaos, maintaining cabinet secrecy, and making up energy policy on the back of a napkin is no way to develop a sound path for guiding our most important Crown Corporation.”
On Friday, BC Hydro informed the BC Utilities Commission that it must reconsider plans to increase electricity rates because government had initiated some form of ministerial review. BC Hydro told the hearing that it did not know the timing of the ministerial review, by what mechanism government and/or B.C. Hydro will affect the outcome of that review in an amended application, or how the public will have input into the process.
“When the House last sat ten months ago, the BC Liberals passed energy legislation without any meaningful debate,” said Horgan. “Now the latest Energy Minister, the fourth in nine months, is making energy policy on the fly. Perpetual chaos is not the way to build a province.”
In February, Horgan released his energy policy that included:
- Placing a moratorium on new run-of-river power projects,
- Implementing an energy plan that puts conservation, environmental protection, and the interests of all British Columbians first,
- Reviewing all existing power purchase agreements to ensure they are in the public interest and take action to correct deficiencies,
- Restoring the BC Utilities Commission to its role providing independent review and oversight of all private power projects and billions of dollars in other capital spending exempted by the BC Liberals’ energy plan.
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