Thousands of Alberta families’ utilities could be cut off: advocates

With Alberta utility bills reaching new highs and a ban on cutting of services to people who are behind on payments lifting in a month, poverty advocates are sounding the alarm.

Utility companies cannot cut off services until Apr. 15. Last week, an NDP proposal to extend that cut-off ban for an additional year was denied.

“The concern for us is very real, that thousands of families could have their utilities turned off in less than a month,” said Bradley Lafortune, executive director of Public Interest Alberta.

He says the government needs to re-introduce a rate cap and extend the ban on service cut-offs.

“We’re deeply concerned about it and we’re ringing the alarm bell and saying we need to have support from the provincial government with really, really clear interventions to make sure people can literally keep their lights on.”

Related: Utility cut-off ban extension rejected by UCP despite high energy prices

NDP leader Rachel Notley echoes Lafortune’s concerns, saying a lot of people are at risk of having their services cut off come Apr. 15.

“It’s absolutely critical that this government stand up to protect families from sky-rocketing utility bills, and we’ve been making a number of proposals to assist with that,” she said on Monday.

“Families have been blown away by these spiralling bills that are hundreds and hundreds dollars more than they expected to see, and that’s been happening for many months. And what’s been announced by the UCP so far is not enough to help them pay those bills.”

But the UCP says there’s no evidence more people will face utility disconnections next month.

“We have been monitoring this situation closely, and so far, major retailers across Alberta tell us there is not an upward trend of potential for disconnections come April 15,” Assc. Minister of Natural Gas and Electricity, Dale Nally, said in a statement to CityNews.

“Potential disconnections as a result of bills from January and February 2022, when the variable electricity regulated rate was highest, will not be seen until May and June — so it’s important to note that disconnections as of April 15 would be from non-payment on bills several months prior.”

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He argues the UCP government has a “strong history of protecting vulnerable ratepayers,” pointing to last year’s utility deferral rate rider program.

Nally says abolishing utility disconnections would “directly increase the cost of delivered utilities to all Alberta ratepayers,” calling the NDP’s proposal a “short-sighted approach to energy policy.”

He adds anyone at risk of their service being cut off should reach out to their utility providers and work on a repayment plan.

“Alberta’s utility companies are run by compassionate Albertans, and they tell me the last thing they want to do is disconnect a person and lose a life-long customer. They have committed to us that they will explore all possibilities to keep their customers connected through flexible payment plans or other solutions.”