Transmission lines in Lethbridge. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

AltaLink proposes refunding $350-million to customers, impact on bills won’t be much

Jan 19, 2021 | 2:38 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta’s largest electricity transmission provider looks to give a significant amount of money back to its customers.

On Monday, AltaLink proposed to the Alberta Utilities Commission refunding $350-million over three years. The Commission would have to give its approval before this could potentially happen.

“We know Albertans have been materially-impacted by the economy, by the COVID crisis, and so we just believe it was a great opportunity for us to help lessen the burden,” says AltaLink President and COO Gary Hart.

If approved, this would entail refunds of approximately $135-million in 2021, $135-million in 2022, and $80-million in 2023.

Hart explained how they were able to make this happen.

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“We pre-collected the money from customers and we don’t actually have an immediate need for the money we’ve pre-collected so we felt it would be better off in their hands.”

While $350-million is certainly a lot of money, do not expect to see a gigantic reduction in your utility bill.

Charges for electricity include generation, energy supply, transmission, and distribution.

AltaLink covers the transmission portion, which Hart says is approximately 10-to-15 per cent of your overall bill. Of the 10-to-15 per cent, this move would reduce that by around 11 per cent over the three year period.

Altogether, it would amount to no more than a two percent discount.

At the end of the day, however, Hart told LNN that it is the thought that counts and the message that he believes his company is looking out for the best interests of Albertans during one of the toughest economic times of recent history.