Dear editor,
Contrary to what some have recently tried to claim, BC Hydro’s proposed 32-per-cent rate increase over the next three years is not the result of electricity purchases from independent green energy producers.
According to information contained in BC Hydro’s rate application to the BC Utilities Commission, only 2.6 percent of the total 32 percent proposed increase is attributable to green energy purchases.
Of the estimated $5 million to $6 million that an average BC Hydro residential customer will see on their bill from the interim rate increase recently approved by the BC Utilities Commission, no more than 40 to 48 cents is attributable to green energy purchases.
The overwhelming majority of the proposed 32-per-cent increase (i.e., 92 per cent of the total increase) is due solely to the cost of renewing the province’s publicly owned energy infrastructure just as BC Hydro has stated on numerous occasions.
I sincerely hope this information helps to dispel the notion that BC Hydro rates are going up because of electricity purchases from independent producers.
Clearly they are not and the public should therefore be wary of anyone or any group claiming otherwise.
David Field,
Burnaby
Editor’s note: David Field is a co-spokesperson for
B.C. Citizens for Green Energy (www.greenenergybc.ca).
