Hydro-Quebec won't ask for rate hike next year
MONTREAL -
Hydro-Quebec Distribution will not file a rate adjustment application with the province’s energy board this year.
In a statement released on Friday the Crown Corporation said it wants current electricity rates to be maintained for another year, starting April 1. That is consistent with the recently tabled Bill 34, which guarantees lower electricity rates for Quebecers.
The bill also provides a $500 million rebate in 2020, half of which will go to residential customers while $190 million will go to commercial customers and another $60 million to industrial ones.
Hydro-Quebec said the 2020-21 rate freeze will generate savings of nearly $1 billion for its clients over the next five years.
Bill 34, which was tabled in June, also proposes to set rates based on inflation for the years 2021 to 2024. After 2025 Hydro-Quebec would have to ask the energy board to set new rates every five years, as opposed to the current annual system.
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SaskPower eyes buying $300M worth of electricity from Flying Dust First Nation
REGINA - An agreement signed between SaskPower and Flying Dust First Nation is an important step toward a plan that could see the utility buy $300 million worth of electricity from Flying Dust First Nation, according to Flying Dust's chief.
"There's still a lot of groundwork that needs to be done before we get building but you know we're a lot closer today with this signing," Jeremy Norman told reporters Friday.
Norman's community was assisted by the First Nations Power Authority (FNPA), a non-profit that helps First Nations get into the power sector.
The agreement signed Friday says SaskPower will explore the possibility of buying 20…
