New Brunswick Power: Our energy, our investment, our future

WHEREAS the New Brunswick Electric Finance Corporation (New Brunswick Power or NB Power) represents nearly a century of public investment in our province, and is an asset that has been mismanaged by successive Liberal and Conservative governments, and the utility is today at risk from being sold to Hydro Quebec by the Shawn Graham Liberals;

WHEREAS competition has been introduced into the supply of approximately ten percent of NB Power’s generating capacity this has favoured large businesses over individual, small-scale, cooperative and other community power generating schemes.

THEREFORE, in the interests of an efficient and cost-effective energy utility that puts New Brunswick consumers and citizens first,

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Government of New Brunswick (GNB) maintains the assets of New Brunswick Power Distribution and Customer Service Corporation (known as Disco) and the assets of New Brunswick Power Transmission Corporation (known as Transco) under the control of NB Power and the GNB, in perpetuity, and shall assert a monopoly over the transmission and distribution of electricity, except in regards any arrangements in place as of January 2010, including those between NB Power and Saint John Energy, City of Edmundston Electric and the Perth-Andover Electric Light Commission;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT that a comprehensive feed-in tariff system be created to reduce the negative effects of monopoly on the operations of NB Power in all its parts, to further competition in the pricing of electricity supplied to NB Power while maintaining provincial control over transmission and distribution, and to increase the percentage of electricity generated in New Brunswick through clean and sustainable technologies;

BIFRT the GNB maintains the assets of the New Brunswick Power Generation Corporation (Genco) and the New Brunswick Power Nuclear Corporation (Nuclearco), phase out coal-fired facilities while guaranteeing employment for those employed within such facilities, and seek cost-effective and competitive solutions based on explorations of alternative indigenous energy resources including wind, hydro, tidal, natural gas, biological fuels including wood, and other energy resources available within the region, including Quebec and the other Atlantic provinces. The assets of Transco may be used to transmit energy from one jurisdiction to another through New Brunswick where it is done on commercial terms advantageous to New Brunswick;

BIFRT no impediment to the viability of a feed-in tariff regime shall be created, including power purchase agreements with independent or government controlled generators; including the arrangements in place between Saint John Energy, City of Edmundston Electric and the Perth-Andover Electric Light Commission and their customers;

BIFRT no corporation that is not registered within the province of New Brunswick shall receive any subsidy, loan, or other financial guarantee from the GNB in exchange for the construction, renovation, or refurbishment of any new or existing  generating facility in New Brunswick;

BIFRT that, building on the commitment to meet New Brunswick Renewable Portfolio Standards and to secure 400 MW of renewable energy by 2010, within ten years, the GNB provide 25% of New Brunswick’s energy needs though sustainable energy and that no less than two percent be provided by individual households, community owned generating facilities, and/or cooperatives;

BIFRT, in support of the above, the GNB shall grant a five-year 100% corporate tax exemption to corporations registered in New Brunswick engaged in the construction, renovation, or refurbishing of any new, or existing small and medium sized, green generating facility (with a generating capacity of 60MW or less) in New Brunswick, or any technology deemed by the GNB to support such facilities, including small producers working under the feed-in tariff regime;

BIFRT the GNB shall seek legal damages from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited for cost-overruns on the refurbishing of the Lepreau nuclear power station;

BIFRT the GNB immediately review and reform the corporate structure of NB Power to identify and correct inefficiencies and weaknesses, and to build on the successes that led to the utility being named one of Canada’s ‘Top 100 Employers’ (Mediacorp Canada), and, in 2009, to receive a ‘Healthy Workplace Award’ from the National Quality Institute; the first utility to be so recognized;

BIFRT the New Brunswick NDP, if part of any government, whether majority or minority, use this policy as the basis on which to proceed in regards the future of NB Power and that the party will not, under any circumstance, support the sale of the Transco and Disco assets of NB Power to any party, private or public, within or without the province of New Brunswick;

BIFRT the Provincial Council of the New Brunswick NDP, on passage of this resolution, direct the Election Planning Committee of the New Brunswick NDP to further elaborate and prepare this policy for inclusion in the 2010 election platform of the party.

Passed by New Brunswick New Democratic Party Provincial Council
February 6, 2010
Fredericton