Citizens' Group" Demands BCUC Probe

Tuesday, May, 24 2005
Section: News - 5:00 PM
Byline:

VICTORIA - A labour-backed lobby group wants the BC Auditor-General to investigate allegations of bias against the BC Utilities Commission.

The BC Citizens for Public Power cites numerous examples that the watchdog which oversees BC Hydro and other utilities is biased towards private energy companies and away from consumers.

Projects director Beverly Tanchak says the Commission refused to grant BCCPP intervener funding for a recent hearing into Hydro rate increases, while giving money to industry groups. "They gave almost 700-thousand dollars of public funds to private power interests," Tanchak says, adding, "we had only asked for 11-thousand dollars to cover our quite modest expenses."

Tanchak points out the Liberal government appoints members to the BCUC Board. The group is asking Auditor-General Wayne Strelioff to launch an inquiry.