RATE REVIEW PANEL REVEALS DEPTH OF MOE AND HARRISON MISMANAGEMENT AT SASKPOWER

Panel Releases Scathing Report into Rate Hikes, Mismanagement by Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison

REGINA – The government-appointed Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel is warning that rates could rise higher even as SaskPower's finances deteriorate and the Sask. Party government hides critical financial information. Affordability and bills are at the forefront of the concerns heard by the panel; however, Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison did not provide the panel with the information it needed to evaluate the true state of SaskPower.

Despite Moe and Harrison having pre-emptively imposed a 3.9 per cent increase before the independent review was complete, the panel has refused to sign off on the Sask. Party's next promised 3.9 per cent increase for 2027. The panel made clear that it does not have adequate or updated financial information and warns the actual increase could be 5.4 to 6.4 per cent.

"This report is brutal. It's a damning indictment of the devastation that Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison have inflicted on SaskPower," said Aleana Young, Shadow Minister of Economy, Jobs and SaskPower.

The report recommended against the proposed 2027 rate increase, stating that Harrison needed to provide additional information to justify it. Concerningly, the panel also reported that Harrison denied it access to information needed to perform its responsibilities.

On page 33, the consultant's report states: "SaskPower did not provide the type of quantitative analysis of life-cycle costs of different generation options that is typical in electricity integrated resource planning processes in Canada."
Jeremy Harrison, through CIC, directed SaskPower not to provide the requested information.

"Harrison and the Sask. Party have taken hiding from accountability and honesty to the next level. This report makes it clear that Harrison went out of his way to ensure SaskPower hid basic and fundamental information from the panel, and from scrutiny," said Young.

"It is actions like this, and Harrison's repeated lies on everything from 'are rate hikes being considered?' to 'are you selling off ISC?' to 'did you bring a gun into the legislature?' that have destroyed public and business confidence in him and in this government."

The panel's report also revealed that since the Sask. Party took government in 2007, rates have increased by nearly 75 per cent while CPI increased by only 54 per cent over the same period. The panel also warned the government to stop playing politics with rate increases in election years.

"Only Jeremy Harrison and Scott Moe have the management ability to take a Crown corporation with a monopoly, hike rates more than the rate of inflation, and still nearly bankrupt it," said Young.

"It is time for change."

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