Maritime Electric rate increase application the focus of debate in legislature

Much of the focus in the PEI legislature on Tuesday was on Maritime Electric’s rate increase application with the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission. The utility is looking to recover the $37-million in costs it faced as a result of damage from Hurricane Fiona, and has applied to IRAC for rate hikes of about 2.4 per cent by March 1st, 2024, for residential clients. In the legislature, both the Liberal Opposition and Third Party Greens raised questions suggesting Maritime Electric could have better protected its power lines before the storm, and said that Islanders should not have to bear the costs of the Fiona recovery for the utility.  Energy Minister Steven Myers says it’s ridiculous to fault Maritime Electric for every tree that fell on power lines during Fiona.  He also voiced disappointment with the federal government’s rejection of the PEI Government’s request for assistance under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program.