The Saskatchewan NDP is telling residents to heed its warning regarding increasing power bills as a result of AI data centres.  

Government Relations Critic Erika Ritchie spoke to media at 1 Plant Technology Road, just southeast of Saskatoon in the RM of Corman Park. This site is one of 30 that have been selected as future homes of data centres, however, not all of them have been released.

She says a Bloomberg report indicates that wholesale electricity prices are increasing by 267 per cent in U.S. states where data centres have been built.  

“And in states like Virginia and Maryland, ratepayers have been hit with hundreds of dollars in additional costs. That’s what’s happening in other comparable jurisdictions.”

However, Minister Responsible for SaskPower Jeremy Harrison has assured in the past that the investment dollars that will come from the Bell data centre near Regina may actually lower cost pressures for Saskatchewan residents. Ritchie doesn’t buy it.

“You can’t make this stuff up. That hasn’t happened anywhere else. Does he think Saskatchewan people are stupid?”

Also, the Province recently refused to publicly release the MOU signed between itself and Bell, stating that it contains sensitive economic, financial, commercial, technical and strategic information. 

“That can only mean one of two things. Either they’ve negotiated a deal that is not in the best interest of the people of Saskatchewan, or they’re completely incompetent and haven’t even taking into consideration what should have been in an appropriate deal with Bell Canada.”

The NDP calls on the government for increased transparency and adequate public engagement on the matter.