In line with SaskPower’s rate increase announced in early December, Saskatoon Light & Power has also raised its rate as of January 1st. General Manager of Utilities and the Environment, Angela Gardiner, reported to Council that if the decision was made not to increase the rate, it would mean that SaskPower customers in the city would be paying one rate, while Saskatoon Light & Power customers would be paying another, and there would be a significant financial impact to the city of over $2.8-million. City Council approved the average three per cent increase, which for residential customers would actually be a 1.9 per cent increase, for an average extra cost of $2.56 per month.

Gardiner explains that in November the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan announced an agreement to remove Saskatchewan from the federal government’s Output-Based Performance Standards Program in favour of the province’s program. That meant future revenue generated in this province would be paid into the Saskatchewan Technology Fund.

Despite this, in December, SaskPower announced a new carbon charge increase of three per cent on average as of January 1st. Saskatoon Light & Power’s rate increase began on January 1st, alongside SaskPower’s.