Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of MACA, Mr. Bob McLeod, in terms of the new electrical rate review recommendations to this Assembly. I understand that with the town of Norman Wells, they were going to see an increase of 30 percent for the next two years by Imperial Oil. I think this announcement was a saving grace for the town of Norman Wells. I want to ask him in terms of future protection under the Public Utilities Board, can the town of Norman Wells turn to the Public Utilities Board for some protection in terms of the Norman Wells oilfield? Imperial Oil is increasing the rates in Norman Wells.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable lead Minister for the Energy Coordinating Committee, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Norman Wells, as the Member knows, the Town of Norman Wells purchases natural gas from Imperial Oil and NTPC purchases natural gas from the Town for electricity generation and it does fall under the purview of the Public Utilities Board. The Public Utilities Board deals with natural gas on a complaints-only basis on the generation of power. The Public Utilities Board makes sure that the rates charged for power or natural gas that generates power is less than the cost of heating fuel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, would the Minister look into the possibility of directing the Public Utilities Board to regulate the price of gas in Norman Wells to make it closer to the cost of production?
Mr. Speaker, the agreements that are in place require us to monitor it. It is tied to the price of heating oil. We monitor it on that basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Would the Minister consider going beyond the monitoring of heating oil to regulate the Public Utilities Board to regulate the price of gas in Norman Wells to make it closer to the cost of production?
Thank you. I think we have an opportunity now that we are looking to implement changes to the electricity rate structure and we will certainly be involving the Public Utilities Board as we go through that process. So we would endeavour to review that in light of the fact that Norman Wells natural gas supply is depleting very rapidly. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll ask the Minister if he would pursue better pricing with the federal government so that we can improve the cost of living in Norman Wells.
Thank you. We do have the opportunity, as well, to look at the thermal rates, whether Norman Wells could be included as part of the thermal rate communities, that’s another option. But as far as the federal government and their one-third ownership of the Norman Wells production, that’s something that we’ll take under advisement. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
