The actions of TransAlta Corp. in manipulating our electricity supply last year are completely unacceptable. They now cheerfully admit to breaking a law in order to drive up consumer prices. Then they offer their own version of the penalty they deem appropriate!
Is this an outcome of the Alberta government’s decision to “deregulate” our utilities? Were we not being told that huge new power lines were urgently needed to prevent future power shortages?
And now we find our major power supplier blatantly setting us up for large rate increases, to “prove” that we don’t have “enough” power. Of course we don’t, if other legitimate sources are deliberately not brought on line!
If we consumers were now to hold back payment of our electricity bills for a couple of months, what do you suppose the “penalty” for us would be? (Keep your candles handy, folks.)
I await with interest the findings — eventually — of the three-person review panel that will look at this settlement proposal.
Given the millions in higher costs that victimized the paying public, the proposed pocket-change penalty tells me that our electricity market “watchdog” has very few teeth and no bite.
This panel “may” decide to hear from other power suppliers — and maybe even the public.
“May” does not cut it. Whoever these three chosen beings are, they need instruction from our government to get all the facts from all those affected.
Bear in mind always that this corporate lawbreaking is becoming a major problem in our society; and need strong government action to end it, starting now.
Bonnie Murray
Red Deer