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Wildrose party says time for power companies to pay for new lines

Alberta Wildrose leader Danielle Smith says power companies can help pay the freight if they want billions of dollars worth of new electricity lines.

EDMONTON — Alberta Wildrose leader Danielle Smith says power companies can help pay the freight if they want billions of dollars worth of new electricity lines.

Smith made the comments as she outlined her party’s pre-election, power-grid policy in Fort Saskatchewan.

Smith said she would also scrap a law that grants cabinet unilateral authority to bypass the public and order new lines.

She said a Wildrose government would put approval back in the hands of taxpayers and independent analysts.

Transmission lines — and high power bills — are expected to be key issues in the upcoming provincial election.

The NDP has already launched a petition to urge the government to re-regulate the industry to reduce rising power bills.