Medicine Hat News
City council will hear a timeline for improving the long-term outlook for the city’s power generating business at tonight’s council meeting.
A steep decline in power prices over the last two years have seen profits mostly dry up from a once booming business of exporting power to the Alberta gird.
A report to the city’s administrative committee in late May also states that the carbon tax and increased micro-generation use by the utility’s customers will also pose challenges.
Utility commissioner Cal Lenz will make the presentation to open council early on at this evening’s meeting (6:30 p.m. at City Hall, simulcast on SHAW-TV, cable 10).
The city is currently using reserve cash from the business to cover a tax revenue shortage created when dividends dropped.
The city is also expecting to commission a new 43-megawatt gas-fired power plant in the north end this fall. That plant’s construction cost, expected to be $56 million, is being debt financed.
Also at this evening’s meeting, councilors will also be updated on the city’s flood preparations as high water season approaches.
Other issues to be discussed include awards of the 2017-18 Family and Community Support Services grants as well as the designation of the South East Hill air raid siren as a historic resource.
