Manitoba’s Crown vitality utility expects crimson ink this yr due to drought – Winnipeg

Manitoba’s Crown-owned vitality utility is now forecasting a deficit due to ongoing dry circumstances.

Manitoba Hydro says it’s anticipating a lack of between $190 million and $200 million for the fiscal yr that ends in March, down from a break-even projection three months in the past.

The utility says low water ranges are affecting its skill to promote surplus vitality on the spot market, though agency export gross sales and home demand might be met.

Manitoba Hydro has been looking for common charge will increase to assist service billions of {dollars} in debt racked up within the final 15 years because it constructed new dams and a serious transmission line.

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The provincial authorities was planning to set charge hikes of two.5 per cent a yr for 3 years, however withdrew the required invoice from the legislature.

The utility says it’s planning to use to the Public Utilities Board — the province’s regulatory company — for brand new charges.

“Manitoba Hydro is within the means of making ready a charge software which it’ll file with the P.U.B. in November,” the Crown company wrote in its second quarter report.

“The revised forecast continues a development famous within the Company’s first quarter report issued in September, highlighting the affect that present drought is having on the utility’s funds as decrease water flows affect its’ skill to promote surplus vitality on spot markets in each the USA and Canada.”

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