Power rate increases spark N.B. gov't rebates

The New Brunswick government is going to help low-income people and paper mills being hit by power rate increases.

The political pressure to do something increased this week when NB Power filed its application with the Energy and Utilities Board for amendments to rate increases. Increases average out to 9.6 per cent overall.

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau announced Friday that what had been a "one-time" assistance program for low-income families, which expired the end of June, will be extended for another year.

Families with an income of less than $28,000 will be eligible to receive a $100 rebate in the coming year.

Meanwhile, paper mills that meet certain conditions will be able to get a rebate on their property taxes for extra costs resulting from the rate hike.

One of those conditions is that the mills be operating at the end of March in each of the next two years, when they'll be able to apply for the rebate.

The Opposition Conservatives are already criticizing the plan, saying while the package will help low-income people, middle-class New Brunswickers will be getting no assistance whatsoever for soaring power bills.