EDMONTON, AB: Decades-old documents show the clause protecting Albertans from a government introducing massive tax or regulatory changes to Alberta’s electricity grid had always been the government’s intention, the Wildrose Official Opposition said.
Alberta government regulation 175/2000 includes documents prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP which led a team of independent regulatory experts in charge of creating the Power Purchase Arrangements (PPAs). These documents confirm that the intention was always “to provide an exit provision with no right to or liability for a Termination Payment in the event that a Change of Law rendered a PPA unprofitable or more unprofitable.”
The NDP government recently leaked decade-old emails trying to imply independent regulatory changes were done to the benefit of a single company.
“The NDP must stop misleading Albertans. This email leak shows how desperate the NDP government is to try and fool Albertans into thinking something inappropriate happened. The evidence is clear that independent professionals did their jobs appropriately and published their work in government regulations, ” Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said. “This frivolous legal challenge will drive investment out of Alberta and the resulting power bill increases will harm Alberta families and Alberta businesses.”
The NDP government has continued to insist they were not aware of the risks that would be passed onto consumers by making a massive increase to the carbon tax on heavy emitters, despite the regulations being on the books for decades and several internal government documents showing the NDP was aware of the regulations and was in discussions with the power companies about the regulations.
“The facts contained in the regulation document clearly expose this government’s absurd attempt to try to mask their own failure on this file. They are losing this case in the court of public opinion and they are trying to divert attention from the consequences of their own ill-considered tax increases,” said Wildrose Shadow Electricity and Renewables Shadow Minister Don MacIntyre. “All the evidence shows the independent experts did their jobs and acted in the best interests of Albertans – nothing nefarious happened.”