EDMONTON, AB (December 1, 2011): The Redford government refused to come clean on the ballooning cost of transmission lines today even after the Wildrose revealed that companies have spent over a billion dollars on suspended power lines under Bill 50.

AltaLink and ATCO had only been authorized by the Alberta Electric Systems Operator to spend $103 million on pre-approval work for the three transmission lines.

But according to confidential AESO’s September reports [links: Western Transmission Line, Eastern Transmission Line, Heartland Line] to the Energy Minister’s cost monitoring committee, obtained by the Wildrose, more than $1 billion dollars has been spent on transmission line projects, two of which were suspended last month by the Redford government.

Wildrose Energy Critic Paul Hinman questioned Energy Minister Ted Morton on the cost overruns, but Morton wouldn’t come clean.

“All along, this government has been trying to hide what these transmission lines are going to cost Albertans. Now we know it’s a billion-dollar boondoggle,” Hinman said.  “This government must act immediately to make sure Alberta ratepayers – who are already facing soaring electricity costs – aren’t on the hook for these ridiculous overruns.”

Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said the real issue is Bill 50 – the Electric Statutes Amendment Act – which allows companies to bill taxpayers for building transmission lines and guarantees the companies a rate of return based on how much money they spend building them.

“They’re essentially being paid to spend money,” Smith said. “Bill 50 needs to be repealed so we can go back to an independent needs assessment process for transmission infrastructure. Billing taxpayers for megaprojects without demonstrating need is just wrong.”

The Wildrose Caucus stands for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom and democracy.

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