Pembina reacts to recent spate of misinformation over power prices in Alberta

CALGARY — Ben Thibault, electricity program director at the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to just some of the editorials, articles and reports released in recent days that contain misleading information about the future of electricity prices in Alberta.

“Various actors are actively disseminating misinformation about the coal phase out and its implications on electricity prices. This is beyond irresponsible — it is destructive and undermines reasoned policy discourse on a topic that is important to all of us.

“The Coal Association of Canada — the lobby group representing the coal industry — is spreading the entirely unsubstantiated claim the coal phase-out will ‘triple’ electricity bills. There is no basis or analysis to support this assertion. There is no other way to describe this behaviour: it’s deception and fear mongering.

“Meanwhile, other commentators — with limited understanding of our electricity system — are parroting this duplicity, whether on the power purchase arrangements, electricity prices, transmission prices — you name it. Examples of misunderstanding, misinformation and outright lies are proliferating. They need to be checked.”

-30-

Contact

Kirk Heuser
Communications Lead, Pembina Institute 
587-585-4522