Manitoba Hydro rate increases could be capped at 5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is higher. New legislation the Government introduced today would also allow the Public Utilities Board to set rates for three years at a time, rather than holding yearly hearings.
Finally, it would also open up the retail supply of power to people other than the utility. Finance Minister Cameron Friesen says the measure is aimed at allowing people with solar or wind power to sell electricity back to the grid. The Opposition New Democrats, however, say they fear it will in effect partially privatize Crown-owned Manitoba Hydro.
