More stability for electricity consumers

Alberta Bill 34 stabilizes electricity prices by empowering the Balancing Pool to borrow, smooth wholesale volatility, and extend PPA cost recovery, protecting consumers with rate stability, predictable power bills, and a reliable grid transition.

Proposed legislation would further reduce price volatility in the electricity system and support the province’s made-in-Alberta transition to a stable and reliable system under new electricity rules that puts consumers first.

Bill 34, the Electric Utilities Amendment Act, would allow the Balancing Pool to borrow money from the province to manage its funding obligations. This change, in conjunction with Ministerial Orders that allow the Balancing Pool to smooth price volatility over a longer period of time, would support electricity costs remaining low and stable.

Currently, the average electricity consumer receives a Balancing Pool credit of $1.95 on their monthly bill.

Without the changes proposed in Bill 34, including electricity market changes in Alberta, the Balancing Pool would have to remove that credit and apply a charge of $8.40 per month (approximately $100 per year) starting Jan. 1, 2017, with similar charges applied until the end of 2020.

With the changes proposed in Bill 34 and with supporting regulations that give the Balancing Pool until 2030 to meet its net zero obligation, the charge would instead be 67 cents per month for the average consumer. That’s the equivalent of a
0.1 cent/KWh increase in electricity prices, and $7.73 less per month than if the government hadn’t acted. The amount will be reviewed annually and adjusted as necessary based on the wholesale price of electricity, amid Calgary retailer pushback over a broader market overhaul.

The changes – which allow the Balancing Pool to manage the cost of the power companies’ return of PPAs earlier this year – in conjunction with reaching a settlement with one of the PPA buyers and tentative settlements with two others, would protect consumers and provide price stability as the province transitions its electricity system and implements changes to production and payment across the market.

By extending the operations of the Balancing Pool, providing a loan and setting the initial consumer charge under a consumer price cap approach, the province is ensuring that consumers do not see an immediate and disproportionate increase to power bills from the companies returning their power contracts. These changes complement the government’s work with the companies to settle the PPA disputes. The government will continue to work with the Balancing Pool to understand what steps the Balancing Pool could take to further reduce the cost impact on consumers.

Additionally, Robert Bhatia has been appointed to chair the Balancing Pool’s Board of Directors. The appointment is effective November 29, 2016.

Mr. Bhatia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Balancing Pool, particularly in the areas of financial and fiscal management, strategic leadership, policy and legislation, governance, and operations. During his more than 30 years working for the Government of Alberta, Mr. Bhatia worked in government ministries responsible for finance and revenue, most notably in deputy minister roles.

Source: Energy Alberta

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