Albertans are getting a little more relief from rising electricity costs.
Prime Minister Jason Kenney said the province will extend its previously announced $ 50 electricity discounts for an additional three months.
“We know Albertans are struggling with rising cost of living, especially energy inflation that is driving much of it,” Kenney said in an interview with Global News on Tuesday, before the province publicly announced the ‘extension of the discount on Wednesday.
“We’re hearing from Albertans that more needs to be done to help them cope with this cost-of-living crisis. So we’re extending the $ 50-a-month discount that people will receive on the bill for three more months. of light.
“This will go to about two million homes.”
Read more: Alberta’s electricity discounts will begin in July
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The province announced earlier this year that more than 1.9 million Alberta homes, farms and small businesses will receive $ 50 monthly credits on their July, August and September electricity bills, for a total of $ 150.
Now, eligible Albertans will also see this $ 50 discount for a total of six months, through December.
“That’s a $ 300 relief for 1.9 million households, in addition to the 13-cent reduction in the gas tax and the natural gas bonus,” the prime minister said.
“The bottom line … is that people are getting real cash.”
Kenney said the electricity rebate program will offer about $ 600 million in aid by 2022.
In a press release on Wednesday morning, the Associate Minister of Gas Natural and Electricity said doubling the bonus will help reduce the financial burden that many families face.
“This measure will help millions of families and business owners pay their bills and keep the lights on as we continue to work to build a stronger and more affordable long-term electricity system,” said Dale Nally.
5:05 UCP expands gas tax cuts and electricity rebates to Albertans UCP expands gas tax cuts and electricity rebates to Albertans – June 23, 2022
On Tuesday, Alberta NDP energy critic Kathleen Ganley said the $ 50 discount amount is too small at a time when Albertans are facing “a cost-of-living crisis like never before.” .
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“Some bills are hundreds of dollars a month more than at this time last year,” Ganley said. “This amount is too small and the highest bills will probably return in October.
“Our position is still that $ 50 is not enough. We still think the government should do a lot more.”
Read more: Rising commodity prices drive up Alberta utility bills
Ganley asked the government to extend the discount program during the winter.
“Because of repeated delays in getting these discounts, Alberta residents will see that these discounts will stop, probably in November or December, when prices are likely to rise again,” he said.
“Albertans deserve to know that they have a government that turns its back on them … we ask them to do a little more than they have done.”
Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams suggests that relief will not address the fundamental problem of rising utility prices. Instead, he believes that regulating the amount people pay would be more attractive to Albertans.
“Given that the government is full of cash right now and will be in the foreseeable future, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to say it’s not a justified expense,” Williams said.
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“After all, if oil revenues come from resources that belong to Alberta people, then enjoying at least some relief in terms of the high costs they are struggling with seems to many people a more acceptable alternative.”
Read more: Gasoline Savings for Alberta Drivers Begins Friday: “Looking Like a Hawk”
Kenney said Tuesday that the province is looking for other measures to help Albertans with the cost of living, but added that the government must be prudent.
“It wasn’t so long ago, a few months ago, that we were still in deficit as a province. One thing we know about oil and gas prices in this province is that they fluctuate. What goes up, will go down. So before we consider other options, we need to make sure that we are in solid fiscal positions, that we have lasting surpluses. “
The province said earlier that Albertans who are currently connected to the system who have consumed electricity during the past calendar year, up to a maximum of 250 megawatt-hours per year, are automatically eligible for discounts.
Read more: Alberta’s natural gas bonus begins Oct. 1
The government said the $ 50 rebates will be automatic on the bills of eligible people; Albertans do not need to apply to receive a discount.
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The discount will be included on each invoice as a line titled “GOA Utility Commodity Discount.”
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