Alberta government to help consumers with power complaints

The Alberta government says it will help consumers straighten out their power bills with utilities.

A provincial task force looking into people's complaints about power bills released its recommendations.

Energy Minister Murray Smith says electricity companies are to blame for the confusing power bills.

"I believe it's incumbent upon the companies...to solve their billing problems, their mechanical problems, their meter reading problems and I think also maybe spend a little bit of time on good old consumer relations," said Smith.

Alberta started to deregulate its power market in 1998. Consumers have had to deal with skyrocketing costs. A report recently found deregulating the electricity market has cost Albertans $3 billion.

To that end, Smith has pledged the government will help customers launch complaints against companies. He says the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board will play more of a role advocating for consumers. "It might be through...student legal services at a university where students can not only to learn regulatory law but also have the opportunity to appear in front of the EUB and act on a consumer's behalf."

Smith says the board will also set performance standards for customer service. Electricity companies will be fined if they don't live up to them.

The Alberta Rural Utilities Association is lobbying for an end to deregulation. ARUA recently sent out pamphlets to rural consumers urging them to support their efforts.

ARUA says rural people have seen a 40 per cent jump in their bills since deregulation.