Hay River council votes to give power distribution contract to NTPC

Hay River councillorsvoted Thursday night toreplace the town's current power distributor, privately-ownedNorthland Utilities, with the government-owned Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

In a joint news release, the town and the power corporation said customers in Hay Rivercan expect a 20 per centdropin their overall electricity rate, due to reductions to the distribution and back-up generation rates.

The town's newfranchise agreement with the power corporation for the supply and distribution of electric power would startafter Nov. 30, which is when the Northland Utilitiesfranchise is set to expire.