Debates of March 29, 2004 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Bear River hydro project caught my ear, so I want to ask a question to the Premier. In light of the Bear River project, I wanted to talk about the power rates that we have in the small community of Colville Lake. The amount that they have to pay for their power in light of the potential for the Bear River project, what can we tell the people in Colville Lake in terms of seeing a decrease in their power rates? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 106-15(3): Power Rates In Colville Lake

Mr. Speaker, the present strategy with the Power Corporation is to try to increase the size of our customer base and the amount of power we sell. If we are selling more power, then that helps to cut down our fixed costs that make it more economical for everyone. Though I think, Mr. Speaker, in answer to the Member’s question, we can tell people in the small communities and throughout the Territories that if we are able to put together these deals which result in us selling more power through the Power Corporation, earning more revenue, then we would have more capacity to be able to deal with their needs. Mr. Speaker, it is always a challenge to deliver electrical power to a small number of customers because the capital costs are huge, and even with our subsidy it means terribly high power rates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(3): Power Rates In Colville Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Premier. In light of the Bear River hydro potential for power in the Sahtu, and the rest of the Northwest Territories, between now and whenever that project comes to reality, what can we tell the people in Colville Lake and other communities like Colville Lake in terms of how to reduce the cost of power in their communities? I understand that the Bear River could be a significant benefit to a lot of people in the Northwest Territories, but between now and then I would like to know what type of plans the NWTPC has in terms of reducing the cost of power…(inaudible)…consumers are paid. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 106-15(3): Power Rates In Colville Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past year or so, the Power Corporation has done a number of things to help with the cost of power. First of all, they’ve done up to 500 audits and they would be very pleased to go in, if they haven’t done it already, and do audits of power usage by customers in communities like Colville Lake to help them come up with ideas on how to cut down the power. We would also be willing to take the same message to the Energy Alliance. The Department of RWED also has some capacity to help people to find ways to cut down on their power. Mr. Speaker, in the short term, we will help people try to manage their power consumption, but it’s very difficult to change the cost of providing that power in the short term. We need to look at those immediate things we can do as well as the longer-term picture. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(3): Power Rates In Colville Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I had a community meeting in Tulita, at Willow Lake, one of the elders mentioned the Great Bear River hydro. They told us we have the power. So he was making a comment that we had the resources in the Sahtu along the Bear River. One of the elders in Colville Lake mentioned to me also that there were alternative ways that the community of Colville Lake could be looked at as a pilot project in terms of reducing power. We have a huge power plant with a limited number of houses using it. The co-op is suffering in terms of making profits. So one of the elders asked if the government would be willing to come in and get some alternative power, generators or initiatives, that could serve the community in terms of not paying out a lot of money out of pocket to the Power Corporation, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 106-15(3): Power Rates In Colville Lake

Mr. Speaker, I will certainly take the Member’s message to the Power Corporation and ask that they look at it immediately. The people of Colville Lake have brought this issue to me as well. If there is some alternative to what we have now that would be less costly, we would certainly like to look at that. I think this is something the Power Corporation would take on quite quickly, as well as other partners who help with energy conservation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.