The Saskatchewan rate review panel is in the process of reviewing SaskPower’s proposal for a double rate increase. 

As announced earlier this year, SaskPower is requesting a 3.9 per cent rate increase in both 2026 and 2027. The crown corporation cites rising power demand, aging infrastructure, and rising fuel and operating costs as the reasons for the hikes. 

Unhappy ratepayers gathered in Saskatoon on Thursday to share their concerns. Mayor of Beauval Rick Laliberte says the average resident may be able to afford this, but people in the north will be disproportionately affected, because they don’t have natural gas lines. 

“There is one little line that goes up to La Ronge. That’s it.”

He adds that if SaskPower brought natural gas to the north they wouldn’t be complaining, but the reliance on electricity has pushed bills through the roof, with some residents paying thousands of dollars per month.  

“Give us a 33 per cent cut on our power rates,” he urged SaskPower representatives present at the meeting. “The urban municipalities pay about 14 cents per kilowatt hour average. The rural municipalities pay about 12 cents. We want 10 cents.”

He says some people up north have $6000 to $7000 electric bills. The Rate Review Panel will formalize a decision in the near future.