Expect more legislation on affordability in 2025, says Neudorf

In March, Neudorf announced new rules for electricity generators that restrict their ability to withhold energy from the grid to inflate prices.

That, along with other recent regulatory changes, resulted in a decrease in the average regulated utility rate of nearly 60 per cent.

He explains that the biggest part of residents’ utility bills is transmission. Since the infrastructure for electricity has already been built, Neudorf states that it is difficult to remove costs for energy suppliers.

Instead, he is continuing to look into ways of managing costs and the rate of growth.

“I think they’ll see more of that in the future, that their bills won’t be growing as fast as they have been,” says Neudorf. “We’re going to plan the system better, create more efficiencies, and again, create this overall protection of Albertans, standing up for them that their rates just don’t keep going up and up and up and up and up. We’re going to manage that in a more stabilized way.”

Outside of affordability, Neudorf says he has also been occupied with several other files this year, including securing more money to expand the Lethbridge Water Treatment Plant, finalizing plans to open a medical school program at the University of Lethbridge, and transforming Lethbridge College into Lethbridge Polytechnic.

2025 is shaping up to be another busy year for Neudorf as he plans to introduce “a substantial amount of legislation” and regulations that will aim to slow down the growth in prices.

He also plans to work on advancing hydrogen and nuclear energy in Alberta, as well as data centres.

Neudorf told LNN that he will keep a close eye on the threat of possible 25 per cent tariffs from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. He says it would have a “very large negative impact to Albertans and Canadians,” and thinks that counter-striking with tariffs on the U.S. would be bad for both countries.

The MLA for Lethbridge-East commented on the Lethbridge-West by-election, which is projected to have been won by the Alberta NDP’s Rob Miyashiro.

Miyashiro challenged Neudorf for the seat in Lethbridge-East during the 2023 provincial election, but narrowly lost.

Neudorf says he hopes to maintain a good relationship with Miyashiro, and despite their political differences, work with the goal of helping the people of Lethbridge and Alberta.

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by David Opinko

Expect more legislation on affordability in 2025, says Neudorf

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