Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I brought up using of limiters. NTPC with $2 million in overdue accounts across the territory. What's the financial situation of NTPC? The public has the right to know. It's concerning for me. Power Corporation has a financial institution. The financial situation must aggressively try to collect while we're in a pandemic. Why, Mr. Speaker?
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure I would characterize NTPC collection activities in light of the COVID pandemic as aggressive. We are encouraging customers to enter into repayment plans to get their accounts back in order. If they honour their plan, they will not be charged interest, nor will they have limiters installed. The reality, Mr. Speaker, is: the accounts-receivable owed to NTPC by our customers are up almost 450 percent since we temporarily suspended collection activities in March. If we let clients' debts continue to accumulate, we are setting our residents up for failure and hardship down the road. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I know this Minister's just received this portfolio. I'm wondering why we'd make a statement, that Power Corporation make a statement in mid-March saying that they would not use limiters during this pandemic, and why is that happening now? You are saying one thing and doing the other? Why is the government doing that?
As I stated before, we will continue to use limiters as a way of ensuring that clients do not get too much into debt and do not have their house ruined if the power gets shut off.
Is this government prepared to do, to stop the use of using limiters? That's more a southern concept of cutting people off, putting load limiters on. In the winter time up North, you're trying to cook. You're on for 10 minutes, and you're off for 10. That's not right. Is the Minister willing to stop using limiters? Can I get her to commit to that through the Power Corporation during the winter months? Summer months, put them on. During the winter, from now until April, could they stop that?
As I stated before, customers with arrears can enter into a plan, and as a result of that, they will not be charged any interest. We will not put limiters on their homes. I don't like the use of limiters, but just allowing a debt to increase to a point where customers have no chance at all for repayment ends up getting their power cut off for good. It just does not make any sense. Limiters protect the person's house and provide just enough power to run the furnace and rotate use of other appliances.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to remind the Minister that we are in a pandemic. We have no jobs. People are living off income support, making the decisions either to buy food or pay your power or pay your rent. This government, this Minister, could make this decision right now and make it easier on everybody in the territory to stop using limiters from November to April. If not, I will bring a motion in the House, Mr. Speaker, to make limiters illegal in the territory. Would this Minister commit to that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There are programs that are in place within the GNWT for residents who require or need assistance in meeting their financial obligations. For example, Education, Culture and Employment has an income support program, and the NWT Housing Corporation can provide one-time payment or assistance through some of their homeless assistance fund. We are also going through a review and approval process right now on potential models. We will be scheduling a meeting with the committee when we are ready. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
