SARM adds voice against SaskPower rate hikes, assembly may debate reversal next week

Rural leaders say SaskPower’s latest rate hike unfairly targets farms and rural customers. Donovan Maess reports.

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is adding their voice of opposition to recent SaskPower rate hikes.

“It certainly affects [RM’s],” SARM president Bill Huber told reporters Thursday. “Every RM has a shop which needs heating and power. Agriculture producers themselves for all the shops they’ve got to heat and the electricity needed for livestock operations for watering bowls and things like that.”

“But we have no choice. We need power,” he added.

The new rates include a 3.9 per cent increase and went into effect beginning Feb. 1.

• SaskPower rate hikes come into effect, here’s what that means for you

Huber recently penned a letter to the Rate Review Panel which says the rise in power rates has a “disproportionate cost impact on farms.”

“We urge the Panel to require SaskPower to fully examine and implement non-revenue-based strategies before approving any further rate increases that would place additional burdens on farm residences, agricultural operations, and rural municipal governments,” the letter added.

SARM also says the rates add to existing rural infrastructure and connection burdens, include limited alternatives and structural vulnerability and are unfair.

“Every farm nowadays usually has staff members and they live in homes,” Huber said. “Their power bills are going to go up, their heating bills are going to get higher. And they’re going to need more wages and increase in salaries to support the needs in their own households.”

The NDP opposition raised SARM’s concerns Thursday as part of the Legislative Assembly.

“If the party government won’t listen to the opposition, will they listen to the concerns of rural leaders?” asked deputy leader Vicki Mowat.

“If you want to talk about a plan for higher power bills, [the NDP’s] plan is to shut down 1,500 megawatts of thermal power generation in this province tomorrow,” answered the Minister responsible for SaskPower Jeremy Harrison.

NDP bill introduced

Talks come the same day the NDP were able to get a private member’s bill onto the floor of the assembly.

According to the opposition, Bill 612, The Lower Power Bills and Car Insurance Act — aims to help keep life affordable for residents across the province, as Saskatchewan residents report high levels of financial stress and rising living costs.

“Whether you’re a farmer, someone in the city, business looking to invest, industry looking to set up their concerns about how affordable access to electricity is in Saskatchewan,” said NDP MLA Aleana Young. “Our power rates are amongst the highest in Canada, this hurts our economy.”

The bill was first introduced Wednesday but read for a first time Thursday after House Speaker Todd Goudy reviewed it.

• Sask. NDP says government “blocked” bill to lower power, insurance costs

Government House Leader Tim McLeod was the MLA who requested the speaker rule the bill out of order.

“Until the bill has been introduced and read a first time, the assembly is not in possession of that bill,” Goudy said in his decision. “I am unable to rule on the contents of the bill as they are currently unknown.”

“Therefore, I find the point of order not well taken,” he added.

This ruling allowed the bill to be read in the house for a first time.

“The government is afraid of this piece of legislation,” Young claimed. “They are facing a chorus of calls from SARM, from chambers of commerce, from the [Canadian Federation of Independent Business], from farmers, from everyday people and also from inside the house to act when it comes to affordability.”

A broken promise

Young also claimed Premier Scott Moe has broken a promise to Saskatchewan residents.

“The Premier stood in the assembly, where you are supposed to tell the truth, and said on Dec. 4, 2025 there would be no power rate increases,” she told reporters Thursday.

CTV News reviewed the date’s Question Period as part of session.

As part of the NDP’s questioning, Mowat asked Moe how much SaskPower would have to increase their rates to cover a projected deficit.

“There will be no discussion on this side of the house with respect to hiking power rates,” the Premier responded.

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On Thursday, the opposition said people want predictability and the rate hike was a surprise.

“People in industry across Saskatchewan heard that, only to see less than 30 days later, a rate increase come,” said Young.

Harrison continued to defend the increases, saying the province continues to record investments into SaskPower’s grid as a result.

“We have an energy security strategy that we have laid out that is one of the most in-depth and detailed in this entire country,” he said during Thursday’s Question Period. “We’re going to continue to make those investments to make sure the people of this province have the power they need.”

SARM is welcoming of that investment but hoped to find a balance.

“We need to keep our costs down somehow,” Huber said. “More power is being demanded every day. We’re using more and we’re hopeful prices can remain stable.”

The Lower Power Bills and Car Insurance Act is expected to be back on the floor of the legislature next week.