With SaskPower set to improve a rate increase and SaskEnergy now submitted a rate increase, the Offical Opposition is calling on the Government of Saskatchewan to stop raising the cost of living for its residents.
The Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel announced it had approved SaskPower’s proposed four per cent rate increase starting September 1 and another four per cent rate increase effective April 1, 2023.
| September 1, 2022 | $119 | $140 | 4% Rate Increase |
| January 1, 2023 | $119 | $142 | Carbon Tax Increase |
| April 1, 2023 | $123 | $147 | Second 4% Increase |
SaskEnergy filled a one-year commodity and three-year delivery service rate increase with the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel. If approved, the average homeowner would pay an additional $16.91.
The impact of the proposal on SaskEnergy’s residential customer bills is an increase, on average, of $11.95 per month (16.8 per cent) in year one, $2.43 per month (2.9 per cent) in year two, and $2.53 per month (3.0 per cent) in year three.
If approved, the increases would start on August 1, 2022. The second increase would take effect on June 1, 2023, and the third on June 1, 2024.
Critic for SaskPower Aleana Young said that the proposed SaskEnergy increase is just another the Government is squeezing residents despite record revenues.
“What we see is certainly not surprising given the cost of natural gas. This is something we know has increased and is out of the control of SaskEnergy, but what is surprising is that we see a Government who is intent on pillaging a crown corporation.”
Young points to the $22 million dividends and the $50 million divestment of equity SaskEnergy paid the Government of Saskatchewan.
“This is a Government that is flush with cash right now, yet everything that is in their control, whether its taxes and fees, we are seeing those go up,” she stated. “Power rates, we are seeing an ask for an eight percent increase in the next year, and now we are seeing an ask for a 16.9 percent to residential customers for SaskEnergy this year. We are seeing that they simply don’t give a damn about the affordability crisis that is happening right now.”
The Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel, in a media release, said that they are welcoming comments or questions from the public on their website, via Facebook, Twitter, email, and telephone.
The Panel will also commission an independent technical study of the application, bringing expert outside opinions to the review.
As part of the review, the Panel provides the Minister for Crown Investments Corporation an opinion regarding the fairness and reasonableness of the proposed rate request while balancing the interest of the customer, the Crown corporation and the public.
The provincial Cabinet makes the final decision on the rate request.
