Manitoba Hydro is challenging a recent order by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to create a special rate class for residential customers on First Nation reserves.
Hydro has asked the Manitoba Court of Appeal to consider two jurisdictional issues with aspects of PUB order 90/18 that essentially order the utility to create the special rate class and also hire a consultant to assess the implementation of various asset Management initiatives.
“We believe that the PUB exceeded its jurisdictional authority by ordering the creation of a special rate class which contravenes Manitoba Hydro’s legislative requirement to maintain uniform rates for all residential customers, regardless of where they reside in Manitoba,” said Kelvin Shepherd, President and CEO of Manitoba Hydro.
Although Hydro says they have complied with the order and have created the special rate class for residential First Nation customers they believe it contravenes existing legislation that requires them to maintain uniform rates for all residential customers, regardless of where they reside in Manitoba.
[jaw_quote author=” Kelvin Shepherd, President and CEO of Manitoba Hydro” ]We believe the PUB has overstepped its bounds in issuing this particular directive[/jaw_quote][jaw_clear]
Manitoba Hydro believe that they need clear jurisdictional boundaries between themselves, regulators (PUB) and government.
Hydro says that from their perspective the PUB has clearly signalled its intentions to build further on “these kinds of directions in future decisions”
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