The scathing document says rates will rise 20 per cent by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2040, even without any carbon tax.
“Clearly, officials tried to warn this government that their power plan was spiraling into a full-blown financial disaster, with Saskatchewan families, farms and small businesses being marched to the cash register,” said Aleana Young, Shadow Minister for Jobs, Economy & SaskPower.
“This memo was the smoke alarm going off inside SaskPower while this dumpster fire of a cover-up burned in the Premier’s Office.”
The briefing note makes it clear that the full power supply plan wasn’t to be made public, not even to SaskPower’s staff:
“Historically, SaskPower’s future supply plan isn’t shared internally or externally,” the memo states. It goes on to admit that “the supply plan itself will not be shared with employees” and that only selected pieces would be “strategically incorporated into communications materials”, despite growing concern and interest.
“This is clearly a political cover up of the worst kind,” Young said. “Scott Moe continues to state he’s proud of his power plan — that’s only because he got caught. He got caught because brave individuals who care about this province helped expose this $26 billion disaster for the people of Saskatchewan.”
The memo also states that, “as a result of the direction received on coal unit life extensions, SaskPower is terminating previous corporate commitments related to renewable capacity and emissions reductions.”
“This is completely backwards,” said Jared Clarke, Shadow Environment Minister. “Renewable energy is affordable and a major economic driver — Saskatchewan is going to be left behind by this horrible Scott Moe coal plan and lose out on billions in potential investment and thousands of new jobs.”
The latest leak comes just days after Saskatchewan people learned the real cost of the Moe government’s coal-extension gamble is a staggering $26 billion. Carla Beck’s team recently released SaskPower board documents showing the Sask. Party’s coal-extension plan could cost $26 billion, including $11.4 billion in capital costs, $13 billion in fuel costs, $1.4 billion in transmission costs and nearly $400 million already committed.
“Scott Moe has turned SaskPower into a political toy,” Young said. “These documents are not endorsements – they’re warnings. SaskPow.er tried to warn the Sask. Party that this was the highest risk and highest cost choice they could possibly make.
“First it was $900 million. Then $1.9 billion. Then $2.6 billion. Now Saskatchewan people are staring at a $26-billion coal scheme while SaskPower’s own briefing warns rates for everyday people will nearly double by 2040.”
SaskPower already hiked power rates on families, farms and small businesses by $136 million this year after Moe promised in the Legislature that no such rate hike was being considered.
Meanwhile, Carla Beck’s team has released the Grid & Growth Plan, a practical alternative to the Sask. Party’s expensive coal plan. The plan would expand lower-cost renewables, build reliable natural gas, invest in transmission and keep nuclear on the table when the technology and costs make sense.
Independent modelling cited by the Saskatchewan NDP says the Grid & Growth Plan would cost consumers less, reduce long-term financial risk, strengthen energy security and generate more than $33 billion in economic activity.
Beck's team has repeatedly called on the Moe government to immediately release SaskPower’s full supply plan, the full rate-impact analysis and all documents related to the decision to extend coal generation.
“Saskatchewan people deserve affordable, reliable power and a government honest enough to show them the real numbers,” Young said. “
“It is so clearly time for change.”
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