Anger in Leduc over power prices

LEDUC, AB -- - Leduc County Coun. Reinhold Ortlieb wonders whether skyrocketing electricity rates will drive him from his farm.

He has seen his rates go to $1,800 over a three-month period this year from $400 over the same time in 2000. His financial situation, he says, is becoming critical.

"I'm going to be broke in a few years. I'm going to be run off my farming operation."

Ortlieb joined 200 other Leduc and area residents recently at Leduc high school to discuss their power bills, which have risen since the provincial government brought in deregulation and the promise of cheaper power resulting from more competition.

Ortlieb organized the meeting because people want answers.

Leduc Conservative MLA Albert Klapstein said he would not hesitate to criticize his own government on power costs if that was what his constituents wanted.

"I am capable of independent thought and I'm not shy of saying so," he told the crowd.

"I'm not that concerned about my political future."

Liberal Energy critic Hugh MacDonald warned that if deregulation was not stopped, farmers would be forced off their farms and businesses would go to provinces with cheaper rates.

Epcor, which provides power for many Leduc residents, did not send a representative to the meeting, even though they were invited to.

Greg Hill, a business manager for Enmax, the Calgary-based power company, told the crowd more choices and cheaper rates are on the horizon.

"You're going to see more choice than you've dreamed of," he said. "The guy or gal with the best service is going to win."

Hill also defended long electricity bills that some have criticized as being hard to understand. He acknowledged that numerous line items on a bill could be confusing, but that it was for the benefit of customers.

"The point of those line items on the bill is so no one can hide anything. Everything is visible."

Hill's words were met with some opposition from the crowd.

Larry Olson of Beaumont was met with a round of applause when he challenged Hill's promise of cheaper rates.

"Our bills will not go down unless deregulation is gotten rid of," Olson said. "Deregulation doesn't work in our society."