The Manitoba Public Utilities Board (PUB) has approved a 3.9% increase to Manitoba Hydro rates effective June 1, 2018. The new rates are about 50% of what Hydro was asking for.

The PUB also created a new class of customer, The First Nation On-Reserve Residential Customer Class. Under the notice of decision, this new class will not see an increase in their rates in 2018/2019.

Also included in the decision was a number of recommendations to Premier Brian Pallister and the governing Tories. The PUB says the province should suspend the collection of almost $900 million in revenues from the Bipole III project over the next 13 years. According to the PUB that amount is the estimated costs associated with locating the Bipole III transmission line from the east side of Lake Winnipeg to the West side of Lake Manitoba. The PUB said the additional costs to Bipole III should not be the responsibility of Manitoba Hydro ratepayers.

Other recommendations included using new Carbon Tax revenue to offset future rate increases for hydro and a portion of revenue from the Keeyask generating station should be used to fund a new affordability program to assist lower-income customers.

The PUB also suggested to the government that funding for energy efficiency programs be reduced.

Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen said that the government would not be giving Hydro any of the revenue from the carbon tax and that they would be reviewing other recommendations by the PUB in the days ahead.

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