For the first time in four years, SaskPower is asking the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel to approve rate increases of four per cent in 2022 and again in 2023.
If the review panel approves the proposed rate increases — the first since March 1, 2018 — the average increase would be $5 on residential customers’ bills starting on Sept. 1 and another $5 on April 1, 2023, the Crown corporation said.
SaskPower’s decision to pursue a rate application considered the need to maintain a reliable, sustainable electricity system while minimizing the effect of rate increases on households, farms and businesses.
“SaskPower is committed to providing stable and reliable power to our customers at an affordable rate, and we’ve worked hard to avoid rate increases in recent years,” said Troy King, interim president and CEO. “Today, SaskPower requires additional funding to increase renewable generation, modernize the power system and ensure a sustainable future for us all.”
The Crown corporation is also asking for approval to change its rate design methodology. The change would allegedly be revenue-neutral to SaskPower and would only affect customers who pay separate demand and energy charges. Residential customers and most farms and small commercial customers would be unaffected.
Visit www.saskratereview.ca for more information about the rate review process. SaskPower’s rate application will be posted to the panel’s website in a few days.
