Government asks PUB to look at Muskrat deal

The provincial government has formally asked the public utilities board to review whether Muskrat Falls would provide the cheapest new source of power for Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Our government chose to request this review to provide another perspective on the soundness of the assumptions and principles used in the analysis. This review is one element of fulfilling best practice processes aimed at ensuring this investment decision benefits from rigorous input from multiple sources prior to sanction," Natural Resources Minister Shawn Skinner said in a statement.

Consumer advocate Tom Johnson will represent consumer interests during the review.

While the board will crunch the numbers, don't expect to see all of them. Nalcor and the Hydro Corporation can tell the board to not release commercially sensitive information. The government wants the report finished by the end of this year to help it make a final decision on whether to go ahead with the project.

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones said the review is not good enough. She said the public utilities board is not impartial.