Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker says the government is looking at four options to handle the growing agitation over Yukoners’ electrical bills.

During question period in the legislature Monday, Streicker mentioned the government is still working on the situation in co-operation with ATCO Electric Yukon.

Late last month, Streicker announced a $150 rebate will be given to every account holder in the territory over a three-month period.

That was an interim measure, he said at the time, with more assistance in the offing.

The rebate was offered after public complaints surfaced about the bills, and the Yukon NDP demanding answers as to why ATCO was permitted to over-earn on its profits.

In March, Emily Tredger, an NDP MLA, asked why ATCO was being allowed to exceed its nine-per-cent profit margin, which is set by the Yukon Utilities Board, without having to adjust its rates.

Since then, the NDP has been pressuring the government on the issue. Party representatives have suggested what is needed is a rate review.

Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, Streicker agreed that is the case, and has been for “four or five years” with no rate review.

He couldn’t explain why action hadn’t been taken before.

He has been in the portfolio for just less than a year, and until the complaints surfaced, electrical bills weren’t something that had drawn his attention.

While the government doesn’t set the rates, Streicker noted, it does have the ability to request a review at any point if concerns arise.

Many Yukoners grumbled this past winter about steep increases in their power bills.

In past weeks, Streicker has emphasized the increases are not due to rising rates.

Instead, as he did Monday, Streicker attributed the boosts to cold weather, and an unusual glitch in the way ATCO billed customers over the Christmas-New Year’s holiday period.

He even suggested Monday the bills rose over the winter due to COVID-19 restrictions, which kept people home more than normal, using more energy.

Streicker was challenged by a reporter as to whether ATCO has the authority to change billing periods arbitrarily. He seemed taken aback by the question, and said he didn’t know, but would follow up.

He also said he had checked into the argument that riders – also know as surcharges – were responsible for some of the increases in bills. He had concluded that wasn’t the case.

Streicker said he has been speaking with ATCO vice-president Jay Massie on a regular basis. The company is looking into what it can do about the higher bills on its own without having to go to hearings, the minister said.

“I know they are thinking about ways to do this directly.”

Streicker said a rate review hasn’t been ruled out. He’s also contemplating a more informal process where input from both the company and the public would be gathered in something like a public meeting session or sessions.

“You’d come up with a more negotiated approach with the public and get all that feedback and then we hand it over to the utility board,” Streicker said.

“We don’t set the rates, the board does.”

That would “expedite the process,” he added. “It is an important issue.

“The rates have not increased over the last couple of years,” Streicker emphasized. “I know we have the lowest electricity rates in the North, but I also know that right now, there’s pressure on everybody, especially with the cost of fuel going up.”

Streicker said ATCO’s profits have been rising due to the sheer rate of growth in the territory rather to any increase in rates or riders.

“The profits are higher; that’s correct. We have had this conversation with ATCO.”

The first option was to offer the “inflationary rebate”, Streicker said. It’s possible that could continue in some form.

He appeared somewhat annoyed when asked what he thinks of the public reaction to the $150 rebate. Social media, in particular, showed a less-than-positive response.

Streicker said the Yukon Chamber of Commerce has thanked him for the rebate, and he’s heard from other Yukoners who are appreciative of the concept.

NDP Leader Kate White scoffed at Streicker’s comments.

“ATCO has come out said they’re doing really well right now. They have said they are over-earning.

“The only way to do this is with a rate review. What we’re saying is for the government to use your power to ask for a rate review. ATCO is willing to do it, so let’s get it done.”