“The plan proposed by Scott Moe is a recipe for higher costs for families and businesses, more reliance on the Trump administration, and a less competitive economy,” said Aleana Young, Shadow Minister of SaskPower.
“This is a plan that was drafted on the back of a napkin, without either understanding or care about the impacts that it would have on the people of Saskatchewan, on the economy, on businesses. It is the epitome of an irrational plan.”
Modelling commissioned by the Saskatchewan NDP and conducted by Energy Super Modelers and International Analysts (ESMIA) found that the “Saskatchewan First Energy Plan” released by the Sask. Party without any numbers, or costing, could lead to:
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The doubling of household electricity rates,
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Increased reliance on electricity from the United States,
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Producing the slowest emissions reductions pathway and higher system costs
ESMIA conducted Premier Ford’s Cost Effective Energy Pathways Study for Ontario and regularly conducts expert energy pathway modelling for other government clients, including Quebec, Canada’s federal government, and the United Nations.
"The Moe government’s plan is anti-business. It will deliver higher costs, kill jobs, and drive out investment and profits from mines, farmers and manufacturers,” said Young.
“It is a plan designed for the political needs of the Sask. Party, not the reality faced by job creators and families in this province.”
Currently, Moe has already announced a plan to raise the rates paid by SaskPower customers by $136 million by February 2027. According to the modeling conducted by ESMIA, under Moe’s plan, the rates paid by households will double by 2050.
“Families are already struggling to keep the lights on, with the higher rent, and the increases that Moe has already imposed on their power bills,” said Young.
“Their plan to double the rates that they hid when they released their plan will only mean people will go hungry or cold because they can’t afford to keep the lights or heat on.
“Saskatchewan deserves a realistic plan — one that keeps rates affordable and keeps the lights on. The Sask. Party plan doesn’t do that, but the plan that we will present will.
“It really is time for change.”
With ESMIA’s findings, MLA Young is consulting industry and experts on a range of options to deliver lower power bills and energy security into the future. She will release more details of her ongoing work in the weeks to come.
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