The Town of Drumheller is proposing a resolution to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) to shed light on transmission and distribution charges on electricity bills.
Utility costs have been in the media recently, not simply because of the cost of gas or electricity but the cost of transmission and distribution. Often the charges largely outweigh the simple cost of the energy. There is also an imbalance among distribution areas. This is what the town would like to see addressed on electricity bills.
“Our hope and expectation is we think AUMA represents all urban municipalities in Alberta, we think there is a disproportionate percentage of Albertans who think
they are paying for electricity transmission charges that gives a competitive advantage to certain parts of the province through no help or fault of those communities,” said CAO Darryl Drohomerski.
The town’s resolution reads “the Province implement a modernized electrical system that has reasonable and predictable prices” as stated on their website Powering Alberta’s Future, and further, “That the AUMA lobby the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) on behalf of municipalities to reduce the imbalance of electricity pricing across the province.”
In its background notes, it states delivery is a regulated service and the rates are approved by the AUC. There is an imbalance on these charges depending on where you live in the province.
Whether the electricity is coming from Sheerness to Drumheller or it's going from Medicine Hat to Drumheller, or Sheerness to Calgary, it is not like there are four sets of powerlines going down the highway and each has their own tag on it for ATCO, ENMAX or EPCOR. It all goes through a common line, so why shouldn’t that be a common cost to all Albertans?” asks Drohomerski.
The town hopes to submit the resolution shortly and it was approved by council at the April 16 Council Meeting. They have hopes it will be presented at the next AUMA conference in the fall. If it is accepted by the membership it will become a lobbying point for the organization. Drohomerski feels this resolution would have wide appeal.
“I don’t know anyone who could realistically say they would not be in favour of supporting this,” he said.
