| Commercial users to get $750 million in electricity rebates, Klein says Jac Macdonald, Journal Staff Writer The Edmonton Journal Sunday 8 October 2000 The Alberta government will announce $750 million in electricity rebates for commercial power users this week, Premier Ralph Klein said Saturday. Resource Minister Mike Cardinal will make the long-expected announcement, which will benefit businesses, school boards, health authorities and other commercial power users, Klein said on his CHED radio program Talk to the Premier. "Because of our good financial position, Alberta is one of the only provinces, probably the only province, to render assistance, whether for electricity or gasoline," he said. The government has also asked a "market surveillance adjudicator" to investigate the rising costs of energy in the province and whether there will be adequate service and competition after deregulation, Klein said. The adjudicator was asked to get involved after complaints to government that people have shopped around but cannot find service providers. "We had hoped there would be more suppliers," Klein said. The adjudicator was recently asked to review the cost situation in Lethbridge, which could have some bearing on electricity costs for consumers across Alberta, he said. Fines can be recommended for power companies if they are found to be imposing unfair prices or operating inappropriately, Klein said. Klein cautioned that generally rising costs for energy are not unique to Alberta and are related to the worldwide increases in natural gas prices. Rising costs cannot be attributed to deregulation because that doesn't kick in until January, he said. Klein wasn't specific about the situation in Lethbridge in his remarks on the radio show and Cardinal could not be reached for comment Saturday. Municipal Affairs Minister Walter Paszkowski said the investigation into rising prices was prompted by public complaints and questions about costs. |