Alberta set a new one day record of power consumption on Monday and Premier Ed Stelmach said, “This is further evidence that additional transmission is desperately needed.”
I view Stelmach’s comments as further evidence of why a qualified regulatory board should be making the decisions, and not an unqualified premier or government cabinet member.
Logic dictates that if electricity demand is on the rise, then adding more generation would seem to be the natural remedy. The logic that an increase in demand for electricity would necessarily correlate into the need for more wires is akin to saying a vehicle needs more fuel lines because it is low on gas. Go figure — it makes no sense.
Of course, Dawn Delaney, spokeswoman for AESO, said on Monday, “Despite hitting this all-time high, there is adequate supply in the system to meet demand.”
Now I am not accusing Dawn Delaney of calling Stelmach a liar, but in my humble opinion, clearly someone doesn’t have a clue what they are talking about.
Enmax has now gone public with allegations against Stelmach’s government of corruption surrounding the approval of transmission lines. At risk for the public is a plan to build $16.6 billion worth of transmission lines that may not be needed.
The plan equates to a tenfold increase in transmission investments. How the transmission charges on the average household bill will not increase tenfold has never been explained.
Overspending or reckless spending to build unnecessary transmission lines has significant consequences. The major industries in this province, which pay the largest percentage of the costs for transmission lines, say irresponsible spending could cost the province 30,000 jobs!
Bill 50 should be repealed and a transparent public hearing process should be convened to determine what is best in the public’s interest.
After all, Dawn Delaney, spokeswoman for AESO, said there is adequate supply in the system to meet demand.
Joe Anglin
Leader,
Lavesta Area Group
Rimbey