Power rates on the rise in NWT

February 16, 2012

Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The cost of hydro may be going up in the NWT right across the board.

The minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Michael Miltenberger, made the announcement yesterday that the corporation will be moving ahead with a general rate application to the Public Utilities Board for new rates, meaning an increase.

Miltenberger said it's a simple case of costs rising beyond their means.

“The GNWT cannot prevent global energy trends and inflation from affecting the costs NTPC must incur to provide service to its customers,” he said. “Costs continue to rise beyond the power corporation’s control and the rate it charges consumers are no longer enough to make up the difference.”

Miltenberger also said there is a review of the application being done to make sure no costs are passed on to the public that don't have to be.

“We want to make sure we get our homework done and that only those costs that absolutely have to be passed on to the customer are included in the GRA (general rate application),” he said.

He noted this is the first application from the corporation in five years and the first rate hikes could be seen as soon as April if the rate application is approved.

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