EDMONTON -- - New office to challenge government policies

EDMONTON -- When it comes to the exciting world of electricity and natural gas deregulation, it's the provincial government that's starting to feel the heat.

In September, the government reintroduced gas-bill rebates. This week, it announced the creation of the office of a provincial Utilities Consumer Advocate.

The advocate, Roger Jackson, is a deputy minister of Government Services. He's spent 23 years in the provincial civil service, primarily with the department of Economic Development.

"Specifically, the mandate of the advocate is to challenge government policy," says Eoin Kenny, spokesman for the advocate's office.

"Make no mistake, this is a recognition that all is not well in the deregulated utilities market. Somebody's got to hold people's feet to the fire." But take a closer look at the advocate's mandate, and it's hard to see whose feet are going to get hot.

It will be Jackson's job, and that of his staff, to listen to consumer complaints, represent consumers at regulatory hearings before the Energy and Utilities Board, and develop "educational materials" to inform Albertans about the "progress" of deregulation.

Jackson will advise the government on energy policy. But he won't be able to investigate consumer complaints. Nor, like an ombudsman, will he operate at arm's length from government.

"I'm still a deputy minister," says Jackson. "I report to Dave Coutts, minister of Government Services.

"I'm not a regulatory lawyer. I'm being brought in more as a public policy manager; that's my biggest skill. The value I bring to this is that as a deputy minister, I have direct access to the minister and cabinet." Jackson says he wants his office to be visible, he wants people to call and e-mail with their complaints. He won't deal with them individually, but his staff will track them so he can form broader policy recommendations.

Much of his advocacy, though, as he describes it, will go on, not publicly, but behind the scenes.

"I imagine there will be a lot of constructive, behind-closed-doors arguments with our colleagues," he chuckles.

Anybody else think this is a little weird?

The government is hiring and paying its own watchdog.

If the advocate can't investigate consumer complaints, how can he hold utility companies to account?

How credibly can Roger Jackson advocate for consumers, when his office is a branch of the government whose policies he's supposed to be challenging?

And how can the government speak on behalf of consumers at provincial utilities hearings, when the interests of the Energy Department and consumers might be at cross purposes?

Jackson doesn't see a problem. Indeed, he argues the government itself is the most credible voice for consumers, more credible than any independent consumer advocacy group.

"The government was popularly elected. It represents all Albertans, and that includes consumers. Therefore, if the government has any credibility, and I believe we do, we are part of that."

The advocate's office is also supposed to "educate" Albertans about the "progress" of deregulation. But there's a difference between propaganda and education. With government writing the message, which will we get?

The advocate's office won't come cheap. The office has no official budget, but Jackson's personal salary as a deputy minister is $184,624 a year. With benefits, which include health care, pension, car allowance and professional membership fees, his compensation will be closer to $237,305.

The office will have a staff of at least a dozen, including lawyers, call-centre operators and a communications director.

"It will cost what it costs," says Kenny. "We can't do this on a nickel-and-dime budget."

The office's first challenge, he says, will be to hire some legal and regulatory experts.

"It's going to be hard to find people who are qualified to advise us. People who're qualified to be interveners at utilities hearings are not a dime a dozen."

The Utilities Consumer Advocate's office opens Nov. 3.

Don't expect anyone's feet to get toasty in a big hurry -- or for your power bill to get much smaller.