Power under pressure
By ETHAN RIBALKIN, 24 HOURS NEWS

An SFU economist has challenged the B.C. Liberals' energy plan.

Dr. Marvin Shaffer's review, Lost in Transmission: A Comprehensive Critique of the B.C. Energy Plan, states the government's plan lacks economic sense and compromises both conservation and sustainability goals.

The research illustrates that the energy plan is designed to artificially inflate B.C.'s demand for privately produced power rather than promote the development, use and conservation of electricity in the province, according to Shaffer.

"The energy plan will force B.C. Hydro to buy expensive IPP [independently produced power] that in most years won't even be needed," he said.

"We buy power at an average of $88 per megawatt hour and are selling it to industry at an average of $36 per megawatt hour," he said.

"Overall, the paper is pointing to a flawed policy - a policy that is designed more to create a market for IPPs."

NDP energy critic John Horgan said the B.C. Liberals' energy plan could mean $160 million a year to ratepayers or an estimate annual rate increase of 5.5 per cent.

"The justifications put forward by the B.C. Liberals are purely designed to generate revenues for their friends and increase costs for residents of British Columbia," he said.

"As we enter into a climate change environment, we should be proceeding cautiously and with forethought - not recklessly in the interest of private corporations."

The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, COPE 378, which represents workers in the province's energy sector, commissioned Shaffer's research.

For more information, Shaffer's energy plan critique can be downloaded at www.publicpowerbc.ca.