Alberta electricity price manipulation investigation.

[Maxt]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/touch/n...tml?rel=841484
Any TA power engineers on here that can speak to this? The next question is how independent of industry is the AUC ?

[Unknown303]

Sounds like crazy talk to me!

[googe]

Originally posted by Maxt
http://www.calgaryherald.com/touch/n...tml?rel=841484
Any TA power engineers on here that can speak to this? The next question is how independent of industry is the AUC ?

Haha, not a chance that TransAlta's lawyers are going to let some engineer comment on allegations this serious.


Sounds like one of the Enron scandals again!

[Darkane]

Originally posted by Maxt
http://www.calgaryherald.com/touch/n...tml?rel=841484
Any TA power engineers on here that can speak to this? The next question is how independent of industry is the AUC ?

I would not want to be the Shift Supervisor on those days

Wonder if his ticket is Gonzo.

[Inzane]

Originally posted by googe
Haha, not a chance that TransAlta's lawyers are going to let some operator comment on allegations this serious.

Fixed.

The OP used the term "power engineer". You understand the difference, right?

[eblend]

AUC is funded by the industry, but are mandated by the GOA.

I know people who work in AUC and are at hearings all the time, including the last 2 big transmission lines, and from what they tell me, they have until recently never told anyone no outright. The hearings are held, the routes and complaints are argued over and adjusted to make most people happy. From what I know of AUC, i think they are very impartial on their decisions. They can't simply say "no", every single item has to be explained and deliberated.

Some of the decisions that my friend has worked on are like 7 thousand pages long...

Also, the whole EUB spy scandal that happened back in the day made AUC work really hard to upkeep their image. Hell AUC isn't even the government but the management at AUC follows pretty much anything that is done in the government. The government says they will require managers to disclose expenses, AUC does the same, government says a wage freeze, AUC does the same.

[BigMass]

wannabe Enron

[Darkane]

Originally posted by Inzane


Fixed.

The OP used the term "power engineer". You understand the difference, right?

Oh god not this again lol.

Are you by chance an professional engineer?

[lasimmon]

Originally posted by Darkane


Oh god not this again lol.

Are you by chance an professional engineer?

Moot point.

[codetrap]

Whatever... if they're guilty, they pay the fine and then just add it back to our bill as a rate rider for something stupid like "Pension shortfall".

[Unknown303]

Engineers are the worst

[Cos]

.

[Toma]

This is exactly why all essential service MUST be non profit and or publicly owned and run.

Anyone that even mentions "privatization" should immediately be jailed for corruption and treason (against the people) lol

[pheoxs]

Just as bad as this:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repor...ticle16722076/

Natural gas went up almost 6x in value from ~3-5$ a gigajoule to 38$ one day.

[Feruk]

Originally posted by Toma
This is exactly why all essential service MUST be non profit and or publicly owned and run.

I hate to say it, but that's true. If energy distribution was public, companies like Transalta should be allowed to do all the price manipulating they want.

Originally posted by Unknown303
Engineers are the worst

Agreed, bunch of smart asses! We need more priests for truth.

[eblend]

Originally posted by Cos



As for the EUB scandal, that is why we have ERCB and AUC now so that isnt a good comparison.

Just a minor correction, ERCB is no more, they are now the AER

[Maxt]

Originally posted by eblend

Also, the whole EUB spy scandal that happened back in the day made AUC work really hard to upkeep their image. Hell AUC isn't even the government but the management at AUC follows pretty much anything that is done in the government. The government says they will require managers to disclose expenses, AUC does the same, government says a wage freeze, AUC does the same.

Following the Governments example might not be a good thing, since the government we have had for the last while has had a penchant for stacking its oversight bodies with PC cronies and bagmen, to the point no one takes the decisions handed down seriously. The PC's have no fear of putting anything into investigation or inquiry because they already know the outcome..lol..

[Cos]

.

[themack89]

Originally posted by Toma
This is exactly why all essential service MUST be non profit and or publicly owned and run.

Anyone that even mentions "privatization" should immediately be jailed for corruption and treason (against the people) lol

Not true, just need the right regulation system. Even completely Government owned essential services will have dark sides that may or may not be obvious. A large issue with doing complete Govt owned utilities is the methodology they use to determine when to expand, where to expand, and how to go about the expansion. Typically influenced by political positions. Private firms have been historically better at choosing where to invest and how to go about it. Incentive for innovation to beat out competitors is also eliminated.

Intelligent regulation and incentive schemes are the best solution (in my opinion)....An example would be the Vogelsang and Finsinger Mechanism LINK.

Honestly though, regulatory economics is the forefront of economic discovery these days and it can get horrendously complicated. So I couldn't explain any simpler than the link I provided.

I do know of systems, particularly in electricity pricing, which has produced more efficient market outcomes than what we have in Alberta. I'll see if I can find them again.

[ZenOps]

Well, at least they aren't charging people for air - yet.