Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Public Utilities Act to:
prohibit a public utility from disconnecting a residential customer's electricity service during the period of October 1 to April 30 or when the temperature is forecast to be below 0 degrees Celsius because an amount payable is overdue;
require a public utility to reconnect a residential customer's service, which was disconnected during the period of May 1 to September 30 because an amount payable was overdue, by October 1 or as soon as practicable;
prohibit a public utility from installing a device to limit the amount of power and electricity provided to a residential customer because an amount payable is overdue; and
allow a public utility to require a residential customer to enter into a payment plan before reconnecting the customer's electricity service during the period of May 1 to September 30.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. The motion is in order. To the motion?
Question.
Question has been called. Government House Leader.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Cabinet has serious concerns about what is proposed by this bill. If Bill 23 were to become law, it would essentially create a right to receive power while removing the obligation to pay for it. This would have a number of negative impacts on our residents. We would undoubtedly see some customers become burdened with large and perpetually growing debts, and as a consequence, the power companies would see their uncollectible debts grow. This isn't just speculation. We saw it happen last year when NTPC paused collections, ceased disconnections, and removed load limiters during the first months of COVID-19. Ultimately, the lost revenue created as a result of this bill would have to be recouped through the ratepayers meaning higher power rates and higher bills for everyone.
Mr. Speaker, this Assembly made reducing the cost of power a priority, and this bill would almost certainly have the opposite effect. However, Cabinet is willing to let this bill go through the process, and we will be abstaining from this vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Government House Leader. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried.
---Carried
