On June 1, Beck’s team submitted two access-to-information requests seeking all coal refurbishment reports SaskPower received from Hatch Engineering and Rockford Engineering between January 2025 and May 2026.
SaskPower responded with fee estimates totaling $8,011.50. Both letters warn that paying the full amount does not guarantee access, asserting that some or all of the records may still be withheld.
“This is a ransom note for public information from a government that has spent years hiding the true cost and risk of its coal catastrophe,” Carla Beck said. “Saskatchewan people already paid for this work and they’re going to pay so much more as power bills double because of terrible decisions from this government.
“Now, Scott Moe wants another $8,000 of public money before he will even consider letting Saskatchewan people see what his own engineers found.”
The reports were commissioned to evaluate and cost the Sask. Party’s plan to rebuild Saskatchewan’s coal fleet.
The engineering reports are central to understanding the condition of Saskatchewan’s coal plants, the work required to keep them operating, the risks involved and whether the Sask. Party’s conflicting cost claims have any basis in reality.
After all, the price tag has grown every time more information has come out.
Harrison first claimed refurbishing the coal plants would cost $900 million. In March, SaskPower filings revealed the estimate had nearly tripled to $2.6 billion.
Internal SaskPower Board documents obtained by Beck’s team then revealed the full cost of keeping coal running until 2050 could reach an eye-popping $26 billion.
“If these proved Scott Moe had chosen an affordable, flexible and reliable plan, these reports would be sitting on every reporter’s desk,” said Aleana Young, Shadow Minister for Jobs, Economy & SaskPower. “Instead, he buried them and is now demanding $8,000 of public money to – maybe – release them. Apparently, facts and independent experts are dangerous.”
The latest obstruction comes as SaskPower reports the largest loss in its history. The Crown lost more than $300 million in 2025-26, its debt has climbed above $11 billion and its return on equity has fallen to negative four per cent.
Meanwhile, customers are being charged twice for this incompetence and corruption, facing consecutive rate increases while SaskPower simultaneously relies on direct public subsidies. The Crown has no publicly available long-term financing plan to explain how Saskatchewan families will pay for the government’s coal gamble.
Carla Beck’s team is demanding that the Sask. Party:
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Waive the access fees and immediately publish the Hatch Engineering and Rockford Engineering reports.
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Release the complete engineering, financial and risk analysis concerning the coal plan.
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Produce a credible long-term capital and financing plan for SaskPower.
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Submit the $26-billion coal scheme to full public and legislative scrutiny.
In the last round of Freedom of Information requests, SaskPower went 250 days past the legal deadline before providing documents that were almost entirely redacted. This is unacceptable.
“Every time Saskatchewan people get closer to the truth, Scott Moe throws another locked door in the way,” Young said. “He can release the reports, answer the questions and face the consequences of his decisions, or he can keep hiding until Saskatchewan people show him the door.
“It’s time for change.”
Carla Beck’s team is continuing to consult on its Grid & Growth Plan and is focused on delivering affordable, reliable power for Saskatchewan. People are welcome to review the plan and provide their feedback at GridAndGrowth.ca.
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