SASKPOWER FILING SHOWS MOE’S MINISTER LIED ABOUT COST OF COAL RETROFIT

After Reviewing More Than 300 Pages Of SaskPower’s Own Filing, Five Facts Stand Out. None Of Them Point To Cheaper Power Bills.
REGINA — Scott Moe and his ministers sold Saskatchewan people one version of their electricity plan, and new documents from SaskPower tell a very different — and much more costly — story.

Crown Investment Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison has publicly pegged coal refurbishment at roughly $1.9 billion. In a new submission to the Rate Review Panel, SaskPower states that the cost is $2.6 billion. (pg 138)
“Scott Moe’s government is making decisions today that will give us even higher power bills tomorrow,” said Carla Beck, Saskatchewan NDP Leader. “The costs never go away. They just keep piling up and families are left holding the bill.

“The least these guys can do is be honest with the people of Saskatchewan.”

Conflicting numbers between SaskPower and its Minister, Jeremy Harrison, are just the tip of the iceberg. Carla Beck’s team has reviewed the more than 300 pages of SaskPower’s latest filing line by line and found four other shocking facts the people of Saskatchewan deserve to know:

The coal retrofit decision was not motivated by affordability, according to SaskPower: “The decision to extend the life of existing coal-fired generation assets was not driven by a determination that coal life extension represents the lowest-cost generation option.” (pg 140)

As more households are falling behind on their power bills even before rates were hiked the first time, 40,500 installment payment plans were created in 2024-25, 7,700 more than the previous year. (pg 72)

Instead of easing pressure, SaskPower is collecting more from those who are already behind on their bills and is expected to collect $6 million in late fees in 2026-27, for a total of $46 million since 2020. (pg. 121)

SaskPower projects its debt will rise by $1.1 billion in a single year, to over $12 billion — pushing its debt ratio to roughly 80 per cent. (pg 185)

“Moe’s Minister chose the most expensive option for power generation in this province, and now Saskatchewan families are paying more every single month, and they likely will be for generations,” said Aleana Young, Shadow Minister for SaskPower.

“Farms, families, small businesses – the biggest industries -, everyone was blindsided by these rate hikes. The Sask Party’s plan – with the old numbers – will double rates. With costs soaring, their desperate plan will cost more and more and more. The only question is how much?”

“It’s clearly time for change.”

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