John Clark
14815 – 123 Ave.,
Edmonton, AB T5L 2Y7
June 2, 2004.
cyberclark@shaw.ca

Murray Smith, MLA404 Legislature Building,
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Re: Transmission Lines to be built and pensions used to fund them.

Dear Minister;

I do thank you for your detailed response and your statement –"Alberta consumers will not subsidize electricity exports." "Exporters will pay for transmission capacity constructed for dedicated exports."

The planned new power grids to move power from Genesee and Keephills to Calgary will in my understanding cost over a billion of dollars. These same lines will be used to move power to connect to the lines constructed for dedicated export. I think it is wrong for rate payers to be asked to pay for this surplus usage.

Anticipating this, these same lines are being planned to carry much more power south than will be expected to be used by Alberta consumers! As such, will Albertans be asked to pay for this excess transmission facility or is there a means planned were exported power will be charged for their use of the southern grid leaving Alberta consumers to pay for their use alone? Will any such rents be returned to Alberta consumers directly?

My greater concern in this area is to the reports that will have Alberta consumers paying power Utility bills that will be more than double our present rates, the difference being in capital and finance charges for this new line. Devastating for pensioners! Because none of these expenses will be apparent until after the next election can you put forward the Governments insights into this area?

I stated that Alberta was attempting to move “Canada Pension Fund” revenue into a newly established “Alberta Pension Fund” there by putting another brick in place on the “Alberta Firewall”. I had stated this new fund would be used for financing infrastructure such as the above power lines and privatized water service. You have responded by naming independent management of pension funds and cited www.apaco.ab.ca/indexhom.htm. I am of the mind full public discussion and disclosure before any attempts at moving the pension funds is undertaken! The full plan should be tabled before Alberta is asked to vote!

I did note the article in the Globe and Mail saying the Federal Government is looking for ways to allow pension funds to be used in the country’s infrastructure.

John Clark