Debates of February 4, 2015 (day 52)
QUESTION 553-17(5): POWER RATES AND DISTRIBUTION PROCESS
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the NWT Power Corp Minister about the rates and the profits noted through the PUB process for each distribution area.
Is the Minister able to speak to those types of profits that are made by our franchise agreements that are struck so they can make power distribution through our communities? I’ll leave it up to him to provide what level of detail he’s able to start with and we’ll kick it off from there. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m able to speak as the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation to what is within the purview of the Power Corporation, which is the rates that we have set, the thermal zone and the hydro zone, the rates being subsidized to the Yellowknife rate for our residences at a 700 kilowatt an hour cap and those types of things. I’m not in a position to speak on the NUL what I understand the Member’s asking about or anything that’s not within the specific purview of the Power Corporation. Thank you.
Is the Minister able to speak to the range of dollar value that, for example, our power distributors earn each year? It’s my understanding that they take at least several multi-million dollars out of the year due to profits and they provide to their insatiably hungry companies that are looking for profit. So maybe is the Minister in a position, as Minister of the NWT Power Corporation, with his familiarity with that type of issue and number so we can work from there? Thank you.