Alberta’s NDP government have proposed new legislation to protect consumers and stabilize prices in the province.
Known as the Act to Secure Alberta’s Electricity Future, if passed by the legislature it would empower the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to penalize both electricity and natural gas providers for customer service breaches.
This would include penalties for companies overcharging customers or sending late bills.
“This is about having the backs of everyday families,” said Alberta’s Minister of Energy Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, “Many consumers are frustrated and have asked us to address their concerns and we’re responding to give them higher quality service from their energy providers.”
Under the current Alberta legislation, the only tool available to consumers to hold power companies accountable is to undertake the expensive and long formal hearing process.
The proposed legislation will give the AUC the power to issue penalties, akin to traffic tickets, to ensure compliance from service providers.
To ensure that the penalties are fair, the AUC will be undertaking a consultation process with stakeholder to develop the penalties and fines.
If passed by the legislature, the act would also clarify policy and regulations on how infrastructure losses and profits in the province are split between consumers and utility companies.
This move is intended to Increase investor confidence in Alberta.
There will also be more options provided for Albertans who generate their own electricity regardless of whether it is from renewable or alternative sources.
There are also provisions in the proposed legislation to help stabilize the electricity market with the creation of a capacity market.
A capacity market is meant to protect against price volatility while also providing a reliable supply of electricity.
According to the province, Alberta is one of only two North American jurisdictions that do not use a capacity market.
