REGINA — The political heat has ramped up this week over SaskPower’s application for a 3.9 per cent hike in power rates starting Feb. 1, followed by another 3.9 per cent hike in 2027.
SaskPower announced Friday it would apply for the increases to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel, prompting criticism from the opposition since then, including calls for an emergency sitting of the legislature to address affordability concerns.
On Wednesday, the NDP kept up its pressure campaign on the issue. Outside SaskPower headquarters in Regina, the NDP’s SaskPower critic Aleana Young roasted the government for “five outrageous things” that Saskatchewan people ought to be paying attention to.
“Number one, despite having just taken $800 million from the people of Saskatchewan with no accountability in December, starting February they are going to be taking in $135 million more through these two rate hikes,” Young said.
“Number two, despite Saskatchewan suffering from a cost of living crisis, what is Scott Moe's plan for the hardworking people of Saskatchewan trying to pay their bills? Well, he's going to send out SaskPower employees to fairs and parades and trade shows to tell the people of Saskatchewan how they can turn their lights off more and use less power.”
Third, she said, she pointed to numbers in SaskPower’s own application stating that it is “paying a staggering $550 million in debt servicing payments just this year.”
Fourth, Young said, families are “going to be paying $25 million more in power bills. Small businesses are going to be on the hook for $22 million more, and farms are going to be making up $7 million more in power bill hikes starting Feb. 1.”
The fifth one, Young said, was that even though Saskatchewan has a rate review panel to provide people and businesses the opportunity to have their say on power bill increases, “they're not going to have that chance.”
“The rate review panel will not be meeting until after the Feb. 1 rate hike goes into effect. It says here in black and white that this rate is going in on an interim basis starting Feb. 1 regardless of what the people of Saskatchewan have to say about it.”
Speaking to reporters, Young voiced concern that they are not seeing any “forward business plan for ‘26 – 27" from SaskPower.
"We don't see any submission in terms of how they anticipate lowering their debt ratio. We don't see any forward-looking documentation on capital management, any of these things, reducing their OMA, reducing their fuel and purchase power costs…
“I've said it before, I'll say it again, 3.9 per cent rate hike this year, 3.9 per cent rate hike next year. This is the crack in the dam. This is the beginning of a wild, wild flood of mismanagement at SaskPower thanks to the Sask Party.”
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Minister of Crown Investments Corporation and Minister Responsible for SaskPower Jeremy Harrison blasted the NDP.
"Once again the lost and reckless NDP opposition have been lying about SaskPower and our plan for reliable and affordable power in Saskatchewan. The NDP critic simply can't be taken seriously," Harrison said.
"Six months ago, she said the NDP would have a plan. Of course, she's never produced anything beyond over the top attacks and silly bluster. The only thing the NDP has made clear is that they will immediately shut down our coal plants, which provide over one third of Saskatchewan's electricity. The NDP plan would put 1400 people out of work, devastate two communities, and destroy the ability of SaskPower to keep the lights on in the province. They would also put the federal carbon tax back on your SaskPower bill."
Harrison went on to say NDP leaders have "sued the government to shut down our gas plants, shut down our coal plants, and they continue to attack our plan to build a nuclear future for our power grid. That's why nothing they say on power can be taken seriously. If ever given the chance they would destroy the reliability of our grid while doubling electricity prices."
Harrison further said the government has laid out a "responsible and detailed 'all of the above' plan to power production and generation in our Energy Security Strategy." He said the strategy will "maximize our natural strengths while investing into future generation and transmission while enabling growth and new investments into our province."
He called it a plan they are proud of, prioritizing affordability and reliability of the grid and energy security for Saskatchewan citizens.
