Rebates still months away from reaching Albertans, documents show

Albertans will be waiting several more months for the utility rebates promised by the UCP, according to government regulations published this week.

According to May 4’s Orders In Council, the electricity rebates are not scheduled to be fully distributed to Albertans until December 31, 2022, almost a full year after they were first announced. A government fact sheet further shows that the natural gas rebate that passed in March will only be in effect from October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

“We can see from these rebate deadlines that the UCP is literally not getting the job done,” said Rachel Notley, Leader of Alberta’s NDP. “Albertans are struggling and tired of waiting for this government to get their act together. This debacle is yet another sign that Albertans cannot trust the UCP. An NDP Government will always be focused on keeping more money in Albertans’ pockets and we will get the work done quickly.”

Electricity prices soared after the UCP removed the cap on electricity prices, Notley noted, and only promised rebates when faced with mounting pressure from the public. There are currently no regulations governing the distribution of natural gas rebates.

The Alberta NDP Caucus attempted to amend the UCP’s rebate legislation to ensure rebates were issued to Albertans by May 31st. The UCP voted the amendment down.

“Last month we proposed changes to the UCP rebate bill that would have gotten money into Albertans’ hands no later than May 31,” said Kathleen Ganley, Alberta NDP’s Energy Critic. “The UCP refused to consider that. We also brought them a fully drafted bill that would have prevented utility cutoffs this year and the UCP refused to consider that.”

Notley called on the UCP to change the regulations to require that the first electricity rebate arrive no later than May 31. She also called on the UCP to immediately prepare and publish regulations on the promised natural gas rebate.