Liberals say deregulation was a mistake
Posted Jan 20, 2012 2:51 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
One provincial party is leading the charge and wants the government to admit deregulating the electricity market was a mistake.
The Liberals say consumers are being gouged by near record high electricity rates and they want the current system restructured.
Under a regulated system, Albertans were paying 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to January’s rate of 15.2 cents.
“We’ve been grilling the minister on this in question period and he refuses to do anything on behalf of Albertans,” says Energy Critic Kent Hehr. “I’m really disappointed with the way the government is reacting.”
Hehr says the government needs to come up with a predictable funding plan for taxpayers after many Albertans saw a $10 jump in their bills last month.
The electricity market was officially deregulated back on December 1st, 2001.
“Deregulation has been an utter failure of this government and somehow they refuse at ways to make the situation better,” he says.
The MLA for Calgary Buffalo adds deregulation has failed to deliver cheaper rates of power as promised to businesses and consumers.
Alberta Energy Spokesperson Robyn Hanson tells the Calgary Sun, a deregulated market ensures that costs aren’t downloaded onto future Albertans.
