Premiers ask N.B. for power guarantees

The premiers of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are pressing New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham for a transmission deal before the proposed sale of NB Power to Hydro-Québec.

Darrell Dexter and Danny Williams wrote a joint letter to Graham that was made public on Wednesday.

They want Graham to finalize an agreement with them — before completing the NB Power sale — that would see New Brunswick build a transmission line to the Maine border, separate from the power grid that currently exists.

They also want Graham to ensure that applications to transmit power through New Brunswick will be handled under existing rules and offered to other Atlantic companies before the NB Power sale is complete in March.

Bill Estabrooks, Nova Scotia's acting premier while Dexter is out of the country, told CBC News that verbal commitments made at the Council of Atlantic Premiers last month must be fulfilled in writing.

"Particularly when it comes to access, to the transmission lines in New Brunswick," Estabrooks said. "They have until March 2010 to reach this agreement with Hydro-Québec and Premier Dexter and Premier Williams want a commitment by February of next year in writing that we're going to continue to have access to important transmission lines."

Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are concerned they will be cut off from the lucrative energy markets in the northeastern United States.

Estabrooks said signing an agreement will ensure this does not happen.

"More importantly it'll give Nova Scotia the flexibility to make sure we continue to have access to power, as a good neighbour that New Brunswick has been for a long time with us," he said.

Letter from premiers 'absolute smoke'

In a news release, Williams said Graham's assertions — that Atlantic provinces will be able to ship power through New Brunswick — are not enough.

"The previous statements made by the premier of New Brunswick are not sufficient to give us confidence that reliable open access will be available across New Brunswick to the Maine border after the deal with Quebec is consummated," he said.

"This situation requires clear and explicit clarification and certainty."

Dexter said he and Williams were looking out for Atlantic Canada's interests.

"We are seeking assurances that the best interests of Nova Scotia and the best opportunities for our region are protected," he said in a statement.

But New Brunswick's energy minister said it was all political posturing.

"It's absolute smoke," Jack Keir said in an interview Wednesday night. "The media got the letter before we received it, so I'm not sure if it was meant for us and had substance to it or whether they wanted the media to get it first. I'm a little disappointed in that."

Keir called the request for an agreement on a new transmission line by February "ridiculous."

"This isn't something that can happen in two months and they know that," he said.

Keir said the New Brunswick government will respond to the letter from Williams and Dexter.