[Community_Media] Hydro Editorial

[Bev Pausche]

Please feel free to include this editorial in upcoming editions of your
newspaper.
Bev Pausche
Communications Assistant
BC Federation of Labour


OP ED - BC Hydro change
 
by Jim Sinclair

Finally, nearly a year later, the bad news has come. Contrary to the claims
of Liberal energy minister Richard Neufeld, the energy policy released in
Victoria will not maintain low-cost electricity or public ownership of BC
Hydro. In fact, it guarantees higher prices and calls for the privatization
of all new power and one third of the existing company.

What if the provincial government announced that existing schools and
hospitals would remain in public hands but all new health care and education
would be privately funded and supported by steadily rising market-based
fees?  Would British Columbians call it privatization?  Would the viability
of our health and education be threatened?  Of course they would. 

Yet, under the Liberal plan, all future energy generation in the province
and all new transmission line construction will be done by the private
sector . Consumers will pay for  the change with higher power costs, job
losses and reduced service.

In effect, we're guaranteeing the private energy companies backing the
Liberals that all future energy production in this province will be private,
available for export and priced at market rates. If this isn't
privatization, what is?

The provincial Liberals are claiming their energy plan isn't about
privatization at all. They say BC Hydro and its consumers will be protected
from the deregulation debacles that have produced blackouts in California
and higher prices Ontario and Alberta.  They continue to spout this nonsense
in spite of the fact that all new electricity for BC must come from the very
same private energy companies that caused problems elsewhere.

British Columbians shoudn't buy it - and they won't. 
The Liberal energy plan is a shameful sell-out of public infrastructure to
private interests. Here's the real truth about what's just been announced:

*	The government won't allow BC Hydro to provide new electricity for
British Columbians.  By law, only private energy companies will be allowed
to create the new power our province needs for the future. 

*	BC Hydro's mandate to ensure secure power supplies will end. If we
experience brown-outs, black-outs or rapid price increases, who's to blame?
Private energy companies will be accountable to foreign shareholders, not BC
taxpayers.

*	 Electricity prices will go up -- first for BC industry, then for
the rest of us.  We enjoy the third lowest electricity rates in North
America right now. Thanks to the introduction of so-called "stepped" rates
and higher prices during peak periods, BC residents and industry will no
longer enjoy this competitive advantage.

*	The government claims it will provide consumers with the advantages
of low-cost public power for ten years through a so-called "heritage"
contract.  But since all new power will be provided privately, what the
government is really proposing is a "blending" of private and public costs.
The government has been silent on what will happen once the 10-year
"heritage" contract expires - but we know our bills will rise sharply as
"private power" comes on line. W hy not make our heritage price our future
price by continuing to produce public power at low rates?

*	The Liberals have announced a separate company will operate the
transmission system. They say the break up of BC Hydro is necessary so that
private energy can access the grid. In fact, private companies have been
guaranteed non-discriminatory access to the domestic grid for years,
following a ruling by the BC Utilities Commission.  This move is really
about letting private energy companies use our public transmission system to
export power to the United States. 

*	One third of BC Hydro jobs and services will be contracted out to
Bermuda based Accenture.  This controversial company has a terrible record
in Ontario, Alberta and California, but the Liberals are pressing ahead with
a deal to hand over BC Hydro billing, customer service, computer and other
strategic internal services.
  
*	Instead of environmentally sound Hydro power, new privatized
electricity will come from coal and natural gas.  This will increase
greenhouse gas emissions at precisely the time Canada is searching for ways
to reduce its contribution to global warming.

There is still time to force the Liberals to back down.  They have a plan,
but no legislation to back it up yet. 

Tens of thousands of British Columbians have already signed on to a class
action lawsuit to make sure Hydro's advantages are there for future
generations.  

It's time for all British Columbians to step forward and tell the Liberals
to stop. BC Hydro is not broken and the Liberals have no mandate to break it
up.

To join the class action lawsuit, go to
http://www.citizensforpublicpower.ca. 

(769 words)

Jim Sinclair is President of the BC Federation of Labour, representing more
than 450,000 unionized workers in British Columbia.

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