Broad opposition to N.B. Power rate increase on display as hearings conclude
CBC
N.B. Power cannot reasonably expect its customers to absorb annual price increases that are well above the rate of inflation and should have its request for a 4.75 per cent increase in the coming year reduced, the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board was told on Friday.
During closing arguments in N.B. Power's two-week-long rate hearing, the province's three municipal utilities and the public intervener joined other parties in calling the requested increase, when added to earlier increases, too much.
"These rate increases are significantly above the rate of inflation and are putting a significant strain on N.B. Power’s customers," said Ryan Bourgoyne in his final submission.
Bourgoyne is a lawyer who represented New Brunswick's three municipal utilities at the hearing, including Saint John Energy, Edmundston Energy and the Perth-Andover Electric Light Commission.
The municipal utilities have been supportive of N.B. Power's request for higher rates in previous years, but in recent hearings have become an opponent of the pace of those changes.
"A financially healthy N.B. Power is good for all in New Brunswick," said Burgoyne.
"However, the burden of improving N.B. Power’s financial health cannot fall exclusively to ratepayers."
Burgoyne recommended the EUB strip up to $61 million in proposed expenses from N.B. Power's budget, a proposal that would lower the rate increase by more than half.
Public intervener Alain Chiasson made similar arguments.
"Further bill increases, if approved by this board, will cause customers harm," said Chiasson.
"N.B. Power needs to start operating as if it has a finite supply of funds. Just like any other New Brunswicker when they open their wallets or look into their bank accounts, there is not an infinite supply of money."
Shelley Petit with the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities also called for the rate increase request to be denied.
Petit said a 4.75 per cent increase "when layered on top of years of cumulative increases" is excessive.
"The board must decline the requested increase," Petit said in her submission.
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