VICTORIA — New Democrat MLA Robin Austin says a private member’s bill he has introduced into the Legislature will ensure that British Columbia ’s water resources are given the value they deserve while allowing private power producers to earn reasonable profits.



Austin, the NDP MLA for Skeena , introduced the Water Resource Protection Act in the Legislature Wednesday afternoon.



“In the past, governments of all political stripes have recognized that water is a valuable resource and have sought to get full value for it,” said Austin . “This bill works in that spirit, to ensure that the people of British Columbia benefit from the use of this resource.”



Under the bill, the B.C. Utilities Commission would set water use rental rates for private power producers. Those rates would be fixed to a percentage of the average market price for power. The bill gives the commission the freedom to set different rates for commercial and general power use.



In setting the rates for existing power producers, the BCUC would take into account the cost of production, infrastructure and the subsidization of existing infrastructure. The bill does not apply to power generated by BC Hydro or the Columbia Power Authority.



Currently, water rental rates are essentially fixed, and bear no relation to rising wholesale and retail prices for electric power generated from B.C.’s hydro sources. In 2002, the Campbell Liberals removed B.C. Hydro’s ability to build new power generating facilities. The Crown Corporation is left to manage existing facilities and buy power from private power producers.



“This bill protects the public interest, while still allowing for power generation facilities to respond to our energy needs,” Austin said. “This is a fair and reasonable bill, worthy of support.”