Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online
On the left, NDP Leader Carla Beck. On the right, Crown Investments Corp. Minister Jeremy Harrison.
SASKATOON – The New Democrats are taking aim at recently announced rate hikes for SaskPower, with Leader of the Opposition Carla Beck and Shadow Minister for Economy and Jobs and SaskPower Critic Aleana Young holding a press conference in Saskatoon on Jan. 13 to tackle the issue.
At stake is a 3.9 per cent rate increase planned for Feb. 1, 2026, and another 3.9 per cent increase for Feb. 1, 2027, after several years of no increases and in fact a reduction during COVID. Crown Investments Corporation and SaskPower Minister Jeremy Harrison made the rate announcement on Jan. 2. It is yet to go before the Rate Review Panel.
The NDP press conference was in Saskatoon as that city, along with Swift Current, has its own power utility and buys bulk power from SaskPower. As such, rate hikes across the province generally get transmitted through to those in Saskatoon and Swift Current.
Beck said, “In just about three weeks, Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison’s $135 million tax power hike is going to come into effect, and it’s going to come into an into effect at a time when most people in this province can least afford it.
“Sadly, residents of Saskatoon will not be immune from this hike, and you can see that right on page 54 of SaskPower’s application for their latest massive rate increase.
“When it comes to squeezing costs and putting costs on to families, Scott Moe and his government have left no stone unturned. This rate increase includes 8 per cent for resellers like Saskatoon Light and Power.
“You know, there’s so much that’s wrong with this issue, including the premier himself, bald faced lying about these rate increases. During question period on December 6, our deputy leader, Vicki Mowat repeatedly asked the premier whether power rates were going to increase, given SaskPower’s worsening financial situation. The result, let’s be clear, of unprecedented and long-standing mismanagement by the Sask. Party.
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“The Premier’s response to Ms. Mowat was, and I quote, ‘There’s been no discussion on this side of the house with respect to hiking power rates.’ That was just a month ago.
“And suddenly, less than a month later, Sask. Power introduced that it had applied for a $135 million rate increase. Scott Moe looked the people of this province in the eye and said that, ‘Power rates, we haven’t even thought of it.’
“I think Saskatchewan people know better than that. It was a lie.
“Now, Saskatchewan families and people right across this province are staring down higher bills and again, at a time that very few people in this province can afford, that people deserve honesty. They deserve accountability. And they deserve a government that’s going to work immediately to make life more affordable, not jack up costs and not download their mismanagement onto the people of this province.
“It’s time that we put people in this province first, and it’s time that we have a government that’s focused on everyday people, not just friends and political insiders. Clearly, it’s time for a change.
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Young said, “We’re here today to tell the people of Saskatchewan to get loud. In total, Saskatchewan residents will pay $135 million for this most recent hike on power bills something the Minister responsible, Jeremy Harrison, he called this power bill hike ‘modest.’
“Now it takes a real level of self confidence to say that since the very last week in the legislature, he told members of the media that quote, ‘We haven’t given consideration to rates.’
“Another lie from a government that lies and lies and lies and lies.
And now, just in case, Minister Harrison has forgotten that he said this, we’d be happy to show you this video from December 3, in which he is discussing his plans for SaskPower.”
This is the video the NDP posted on social media:
Young continued, “I think this video speaks entirely for itself. And look, families are already stretched to the breaking point, and now the government wants them to cover the cost of their bad decisions and their ballooning debt. This rate hike wasn’t inevitable. This is the consequence of choices that the Sask. Party has made at SaskPower and to suggest to the people of this province that any hike on their bills is modest, is out of touch and wildly insensitive, but this is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Sask. Party.
“SaskPower is forecast to pay $551 million just this year to cover the interest on their debt. This is a cost that is immediately downloaded on to the people of this province. So today, we’re demanding that Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison immediately withdraw their plan for higher power rates the people of Saskatchewan. Should not have to pay for the Sask. Party’s mess.”
Additionally, Young posted this video on Facebook, in which she brings up the bogeyman of the possibility of privatizing SaskPower. That strategy won the NDP its last election, back in 2003.
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Minister responds
In response to this and other recent criticism on the SaskPower file, Harrison said by email on Jan. 14, “If you could run a power grid on pixie dust and your own endless supply of self-righteous hot air the NDP would have it all figured out. Unfortunately for them physics and reality actually matters.
“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. 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 1,400 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. In fact, 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.
“Our government has laid out a responsible and detailed “all of the above” plan to power production and generation in our Energy Security Strategy, a strategy that will maximize our natural strengths while investing into future generation and transmission while enabling growth and new investments into our province. It’s a plan we are proud of and a plan that will provide huge benefits to our province by prioritizing the affordability and reliability of our grid while providing energy security for Saskatchewan citizens.”
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With regards to SaskPower’s debt, Harrison said, “SaskPower will maintain its debt ratio within manageable levels comparable to other electrical utilities. We will not abandon critical infrastructure projects that build our communities and create jobs including connecting the northern and southern grids to provide reliable and affordable power for our northern communities.”
On the Southwest Power Pool, Harrison said, “The expanded SPP intertie will not, as stated in the scrum, be “import only”. In addition to improving the reliability of Saskatchewan’s power grid, the expanded interconnection will provide opportunities for additional revenue by selling surplus power into a large market with broad geographic coverage. Look no further than the Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy & Supply Plan to detail our plans.”
That 500 megawatt expansion of the intertie to North Dakota is currently under construction west of Estevan.
On reliability and the claim SaskPower is investing mostly in maintenance, Harrison said, “SaskPower is always working to bolster the reliability of our electrical system. The rate increase will support record investment to ensure we have the reliable power our growing communities and businesses need.”
On Jan. 14, a new 100 megawatt solar facility, to be built and operated by an independent power producer with 50 per cent Indigenous ownership, was announced for the Lajord area, southeast of Regina.
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