The Written Word: May 12, 2008
By Rafe Mair
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 03:45 AM
Dear Opinion250ers, I must announce that in discussions of the environment 
and power I have an interest as advisor to and spokesperson for The Save Our Rivers Society. Please take these and any future columns concerning these matters in that light.
and power I have an interest as advisor to and spokesperson for The Save Our Rivers Society. Please take these and any future columns concerning these matters in that light.For nearly 50 years BC Hydro and Power has served this province well which is not to say that we haven’t all had reasons from time to time to be pissed off with it. The main thing, though, is that it’s been public power and has been an engine for regional development as well as giving British Columbians and BC businesses the lowest electrical rates, or near to it, of any jurisdiction in the Americas. It has also served another important role – being a public power company it’s been able to sell power into the US grid without being subject to NAFTA reciprocity rules. This is why we’ve been able to have low power rates.
All this is going to change and the Campbell government isn’t leveling with you. BC Hydro will, after the next election is safely tucked away by Mr. Campbell, be privatized and power in British Columbia will be privately supplied and we will no longer be out of NAFTA.
On February 28, 2003 Hydro entered a 10-Year, $1.45 Billion Pact with Accenture Business Services of BC who would, in essence, run the Hydro “bureaucracy”. Accenture is a stepchild of the disgraced Enron. One down and two to go.
The same year the British Columbia Transmission Corporation was set up to take over BC Hydro’s transmission lines. At the time we were assured that BCTC would be under the supervision of the BC Utilities Commission. With the passage of the infamous Bill 15 that will no longer be the case. The government didn’t like it when the BCUC nixed a contract for power with Alcan, a deal seen by most as a sweetheart deal; they’ll not have to worry any longer. Two down and one to go.
The so-called Run of River projects are a series of private monopolies guaranteed to make buckets of money for the shareholders of the mostly offshore companies that have been “lucky” enough to get licenses. (That sort of reminds me of the time someone gushed up to Mae West, the famous Hollywood siren of years gone by saying “Goodness, what lovely diamonds!” Mae replied, “Goodness had nothing to do with them, my dear”. Similarly “luck” had little to do with the water licenses Campbell granted for a song.)
When, not if, the Campbell government privatizes BCTC we will neatly have private power, rates will skyrocket, and we’ll be under NAFTA – all brought to you by Campbell & Co who hate public monopolies but seem to love private ones especially those owned by friends. Three down – finis.
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Posted by: michael on May 13 2008 7:09 AM
get ready to be screwed again.
It'sa coming