Released on January 12, 2005
SaskPower customers will receive a lower rate increase after the provincial government approved the recommendations of the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel.Government has approved a reduced, system-wide average rate increase of 5.65 per cent for SaskPower customers, retroactive to September 1st, 2004. An average increase of 9 per cent had taken effect September 1st while SaskPower's proposal was being considered by the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel. In a report issued December 17th, the Panel recommended that the increase be reduced.
"We agree with the Panel's recommendation and we will direct SaskPower to adjust its billing system as of March 1st, 2005," Crown Management Board Minister Pat Atkinson said. "We are also directing SaskPower to issue a customer credit, with interest, for the amount over-collected between September 1st, 2004 and February 28th, 2005. The credit will appear on customer bills issued after March 1st."
The drop from a 9 per cent increase to a 5.65 per cent increase will mean the average urban residential customer will now pay about $4 a month more for electricity than in August, rather than $6 a month extra. For rural residential users, the increase will amount to about $7 a month, rather than $11, and the increase for farms will be about $8 a month rather than $10.
"The Rate Review Panel told us that an average 9 per cent increase would be a hardship for many customers," Atkinson said. "We have listened to the Panel and to the people of Saskatchewan. We also accepted the Panel's recommendation that the maximum increase for any individual customer should not exceed 17 per cent, and that the increase for manufacturers should not exceed 7 per cent.
"We want to thank the Panel for its work on this rate review. We also want to thank the many individuals and businesses who shared their views with the Panel through public meetings, e-mails, letters and phone calls."
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For More Information, Contact:
| Karen Schmidt CIC Regina Phone: (306) 787-5889 |