SASKATOON — Affordability, transparency, and regional inequities can sum up Beauval Mayor Rick Laliberte’s concerns about SaskPower’s rate hike application.
Laliberte, during Thursday night’s April 9 public meeting at the Sheraton Cavalier, said he is simply expressing the concerns raised by residents of the province’s northern communities.
He said that many from the north are against the proposed rate increase submitted by SaskPower to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel.
Laliberte suggested that northern communities should have a different electricity rate because the current rate unfairly burdens residents.
“What I see today is that rates in the province have two categories: urban and rural. I’m calling for a northern rate,” said Laliberte.
He said that northern residents currently pay around 14 cents per kilowatt-hour and are expected to pay more. Beauval’s annual power bills reach $4,600, compared to about $1,500 elsewhere in the province.
Laliberte believes a northern rate closer to 10 cents per kilowatt hour would better align with neighbouring Manitoba and reflect the region’s reliance on hydroelectric power.
He added that many northern communities lack access to natural gas, leaving residents dependent on electricity for heating during the winter months, something that significantly drives up household costs.
“We’re asking — give us a break, high energy costs are worsening affordability challenges and contributing to housing overcrowding in some communities,” said Laliberte.
He then criticized the allocation of infrastructure costs, saying that if the government plans to develop the north, especially the mining sector, industry leaders should bear the costs.
Laliberte argued that northern residents are being asked to subsidize transmission projects tied to uranium mining developments that primarily benefit the industry rather than local households.
Saskatchewan NDP Critic for SaskPower, Aleana Yong, has also called on the review panel to reject the rate increase application, as it is unnecessary, with many residents struggling financially.
The Regina South Albert MLA said the government, led by Premier Scott Moe and Crown Investments Corp. Minister Jeremy Harrison, is pushing rate hikes despite earlier commitments to keep costs down.
“This is a rate hike being pushed through on the people of Saskatchewan despite all signs to the contrary. What we heard today is a sanitized set of facts and figures,” said Young.
“The panel needs real information, transparency and accountability before making any decision. They [SaskPower] are asking people to pay for their mistakes.”
Public meeting
The panel is expected to review submissions from municipalities, industry groups and residents before making recommendations on SaskPower’s rate request later this year.
In the meeting, it was discussed how SaskPower is using a mix of government subsidies, cost-cutting, tax relief, and financial adjustments to keep rates as low as possible.
However, SaskPower said increases are still necessary due to infrastructure spending and rising debt, and outlined several steps it will take to minimize electricity rate increases.
Some of the suggestions were rate freezes and policy changes, such as implementing a flat rate for two years and removing the carbon tax in 2025, which could reduce customer bills by about 11.7 per cent.
SaskPower will also rely on hundreds of millions of dollars of support from the provincial and federal governments, funding that could offset costs and avoid larger rate hikes.
Phasing out the provincial corporate capital tax will save about $80 million annually, reducing pressure for rate increases. Allowing debt levels to shift focus away from strict financial targets will also help.
SaskPower still paid the carbon tax despite removing it from residents’ bills, adding to their financial woes, and needing rate increases to fund rising costs and debt that grows by $1 billion annually.
Maintaining infrastructure was one of the reasons for the rising debt. Residents pay higher prices due to Saskatchewan’s distribution system, while industrial customers pay less since they are not charged the distribution costs.
Customers paying less
The provincial government, in a statement, said its decision to remove the federal carbon tax from SaskPower bills last year had resulted in customers paying about 11 percent less.
“Saskatchewan is the most affordable province in Canada for a family, and we have the second-lowest utility bundle among provinces. In every budget, there is over $2.5 billion in affordability measures,” the government said.
“We are seeing record growth, and our top priority remains providing reliable, affordable, and secure power to all of Saskatchewan. SaskPower must plan and make the necessary capital investments in our generation, transmission, and distribution system.”
Some of their major capital projects include the Aspen Power Station, the expansion of operations at the coal-fired units, and the significant build-out of the province's transmission system.
“SaskPower must make these investments while balancing rising fuel and operating costs. SaskPower is committed to balancing the need for significant infrastructure investments while ensuring long-term reliability and keeping rates as low as possible,” the statement added.
The government said the interim rate increase, which took effect on Feb. 1, 2026, was only the third time they increased power rates in the previous eight fiscal years.
