UCP CONTINUE TO INCREASE POWER BILLS FOR ALBERTANS

News Release

Utility Payment Deferral Program: Minister Nally

Associate Minister of Natural Gas and Electricity Dale Nally issued the following statement about the Utility Payment Deferral Program and the associated upcoming rate rider:

“The initial economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many Albertans being unable to pay their electricity bills and natural gas bills. This is why Alberta’s government created the Utility Payment Deferral Program, which successfully supported hundreds of thousands of Albertans. While retailers worked flexibly and compassionately with customers who had outstanding deferral balances, a small portion of those debts were never settled.
“Repayment of any remaining debt through a rate rider was included in the Utility Payment Deferral Program Act, which was passed in the legislature in May 2020. Analysis of the total deferral repayments shows a remaining balance that is significantly less than originally anticipated.
“This fall, Alberta utility rate payers will see a small and temporary ‘Utility Deferral Adjustment’ rate rider on their electricity and natural gas bills. Average household consumers are expected to be charged a fraction of a dollar on electricity and natural gas bills for a few months.
“The Alberta Utilities Commission is in the process of gathering the total remaining debt from retailers and will determine the amount and length of the rider that will be required. The program’s intention was to provide relief to those hardest hit by the pandemic while having a minimal impact on utility bills for consumers as a whole.
“This small, temporary rate rider ensures that the debt will be repaid in the most transparent and straightforward manner.”

News Release
 
MEDIA STATEMENT: UCP CONTINUE TO INCREASE POWER BILLS FOR ALBERTANS
 
NDP Energy Critic Kathleen Ganley issued the following statement regarding the UCP’s Utility Payment Deferral Program and the associated upcoming rate rider:
 
“The UCP government reverted to a system that saw wild price spikes and failed to present Albertans with a solid plan to keep costs under control. As a result of these decisions, Albertans are faced with cost increases as they continue to struggle from the impacts of the pandemic. 
 
“Downloading more costs on to Albertans and asking them to reach further into their pocket as they struggle to make ends meet is unfair and will only hurt our recovery. 
 
“Albertans deserve stable and affordable electricity, not unpredictable punishing spikes. The UCP needs to cover the costs of the utility deferral program and bring back the price cap introduced by our government.”