Alberta government tells utilities to prove fair costs

subscribe

Changes by Alberta's provincial government will protect consumers by bringing greater transparency to electricity costs. Under new regulations, the onus is now on electricity transmission companies to prove the cost of transmission lines is reasonable. Under the old regulations, it was up to consumer groups to challenge the cost - a cost that is ultimately passed on to Albertans.

“We have taken action to ensure that Albertans aren’t on the hook for unjustified costs associated with building transmission lines,” said Alberta's Energy Minister Ken Hughes. “Transmission companies now must defend every cent they charge consumers. This brings more transparency and delivers on promises made following the retail market review.”

As part of its broader powers to scrutinize the cost of new transmission projects, the Alberta Utilities Commission will be able to assess information earlier in the process, so it can ensure that all costs are necessary.

In January 2013, government announced changes to transmission cost oversight and struck an MLA Implementation Team to protect Alberta consumers from volatile electricity costs.

An estimated $14 billion in new transmission infrastructures will be built over the next decade to meet the growing electricity demands Albertans and industry within the province.

Related News

power plant

ACORE tells FERC that DOE Proposal to Subsidize Coal, Nuclear Power Plants is unsupported by Record

WASHINGTON - A diverse group of a dozen energy industry associations representing oil, natural gas, wind, solar, efficiency, and other energy technologies today submitted reply comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) continuing their opposition to the Department of Energy's (DOE) proposed rulemaking on grid resiliency pricing, in the next step in this FERC proceeding.

Action by FERC is expected by December 11.

In these comments, this broad group of energy industry associations notes that most of the comments submitted initially by an unprecedented volume of filers, including grid operators whose markets would be impacted by the proposed rule, urged FERC not to adopt DOE'sproposed rule to provide out-of-market financial support to uneconomic…

READ MORE

Smaller, cheaper, safer: Next-gen nuclear power, explained

READ MORE

should-california-fund-biofuels-or-electric-vehicles

Should California Fund Biofuels or Electric Vehicles?

READ MORE

sheerness power plant

Alberta gives $40M to help workers transition from coal power jobs

READ MORE

apartment lights

America’s Electricity is Safe From the Coronavirus—for Now

READ MORE