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Fort Macleod residents to vote on power utility sale

Jul 11, 2017 | 12:23 PM

FORT MACLEOD – Faced with millions of dollars in needed upgrades, the Town of Fort Macleod is going in a new direction with its electrical utility.

The town has an “indicative offer” from Fortis Alberta to buy the utility. The purchase price is $4.9 million, but the town’s chief administrative officer Sue Keenan explains the final tally will be over $5 million.

“We don’t have a big enough staff base to do all the work that’s required to be done to bring that system to where it needs to be”

 

– Sue Keenan

Keenan says the town began exploring options for its power system a year ago, as it looked at a massive need for improvements.

“It would involve millions of dollars in investment, and Fort Macleod, like a lot of the other smaller urban centres that exist, has the same issues that they have had. Some have already sold their electrical systems,” Keenan explained in an interview. Fort Macleod is one of the last Alberta communities of its size to still own the power utility.

“Quite honestly, we’re not in a position where we have the professionalism to deal with electrical,” she added. “It’s a very specialized field, although we do have some staff on board. But we don’t have a big enough staff base to do all the work that’s required to be done to bring that system to where it needs to be to ensure the safety of our staff, the safety of our residents, and to ensure the system is effective and efficient.”

As part of the agreement, Fortis promises to commit capital dollars into upgrades within 3-5 years. Keenan said another benefit for residents would be faster service, since Fortis has a much larger labour pool.

As for rates, Keenan doesn’t expect any immediate impact. But she says if the town was on the hook for all the needed upgrades, the cost would definitely be felt by taxpayers.

Residents of Fort Macleod will have a chance to make their voices heard, with a non-binding ballot question in the October municipal election. The final decision will then rest with the new council.

“They will have to weigh the pros and the cons of what the residents have shared through the referendum, and then make an informed and educated decision,” Keenan said.

Public engagement meetings are scheduled for July 27, Aug. 30, and Sept. 26, all from 7-9 p.m. at the Fort Macleod Community Hall.