Ottawa to pay for Maritime Electric’s Fiona-related expenses
The federal authorities has agreed to cowl Maritime Electrical’s prices to revive energy after post-tropical storm Fiona, mentioned P.E.I. Premier Dennis King.
The funding will come by the Provincial-Federal Disaster Financial Assistance Program.
“The entire intent can be to be sure that the Island ratepayers aren’t having to endure a major fee enhance to select up the prices which have gone into the restoration from Fiona,” King mentioned in an interview Wednesday.
King mentioned when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited P.E.I. after Fiona, they spoke about utilizing this program to cowl Maritime Electrical’s prices in order that the utility’s fee would not go up.
“He understood utterly that he did not wish to see Islanders get unfairly penalized for one thing that was exterior of their management,” he mentioned.
After Fiona hit P.E.I. the night time of Sept. 23, 90 per cent of the Island’s electrical system misplaced energy.
It took Maritime Electrical simply over three weeks to complete restoring energy to all of its prospects.
A spokesperson at Maritime Electrical informed CBC Information they’re nonetheless tallying the full quantity that energy restoration price them.
The utility will file a report within the subsequent couple of weeks with the Island Regulatory and Appeals Fee with that whole greenback determine.
Ottawa, P.E.I. 90-10 cut up beneath program
A provincial spokesperson mentioned the province’s declare by the catastrophe reduction program will even embrace bills for particles elimination, in addition to provincial infrastructure that was broken, comparable to bridges and roads.
Premier King mentioned as soon as the ultimate determine is available in from Maritime Electrical and the opposite bills are calculated, the province will submit one declare to the federal authorities by this system.
Underneath this system, the federal authorities pays 90 per cent of prices and the provincial authorities pays 10 per cent.
“Clearly there’s an sum of money — no matter it will likely be ultimately — that we should pay as the federal government of Prince Edward Island. However the bulk of it’s picked up beneath the catastrophe program,” mentioned King.
