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By Chris Brown

On hold with election ahead

City says any sale of power plant excluded from current strategic review

Feb 8, 2021 | 3:17 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The City of Medicine Hat is pausing its look at selling its electric generation assets, referencing a tight timeline with the municipal election a little more than eight months away.

The city is confirming that there is no pending sale of the power plant under consideration.

In a news release on Monday afternoon, the city also says that any future possible sale would be subject to an appropriate consultation and approval process.

“The future of electricity generation, like any commodity business, is difficult to forecast, and the pace of technological change is also uncertain,” says Brad Maynes, managing director of Energy and Infrastructure. “The City of Medicine Hat will continue to evaluate the financial performance of this asset and consider its retention value as we do with our entire portfolio.”

In January, the city announced it was examining the future of its electric generation assets, potentially leading to selling them off or partnering with the private sector.

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In the release on Feb. 8, the city says feedback from the community played a role in the decision to exclude any potential sale from the current strategic review, particularly since the opportunity for appropriate consultation and the authority of the current council are both limited by the fall election.

“As elected officials, our role is to continually monitor all asset performance and keep an eye on industry trends,’ says Mayor Ted Clugston. “However, the current Council has only months left in their term and it’s evident that more time is needed to appropriately contemplate this decision.”

In the short-term, the City of Medicine Hat will continue its focus on building the next electricity generation unit, which is expected to break ground this spring. Longer-term, officials maintain the need for ongoing evaluation.

For more information on the future of power in Medicine Hat, visit shapeyourcity.medicinehat.ca.