Shouldn't there be room for them on the Commission, at least in an advisory role, to explain what it's like to be on an actual budget

As a friend of mine said to me, "It is wonderfully generous of them to use our money this way --- and to get more bureaucracy for BC Hydro.  Their annual costs to run this program is not something to ignore."

And that was one of the thoughts I postulated when I wrote last Saturdays commentary, "They can call it what they want; Clean Energy Levy, Crisis Fund, Conservation Rate.At the end of the day it's a tax"

 Sure, it's only $3.00 ... at least for the present ... however my point was that it's NOT up to these Utility Commission members to decide where MY charity should be given. 

Look at the names on the list of Board members -- there's not one on there that's likely to ever be concerned about the cost of living. 

So ... if they're feeling flush ... I don't think ANY of us would object to these individuals coughing up the nearly ONE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR that BC Hydro's so-called Customer Crisis Fund will require.

So who sits on the BC Utilities Commission?   There's a lot of lawyers and chartered accountants ... there's also CEO's ... Directors of big corporations ... and more.  Here are some of the areas, and fields of expertise, they hold (or have held)

... consultant in the information technology sector

... a member of the Board of Consumer Protection British Columbia.

... member of the Board of Directors of British Columbia Life Insurance Ltd

... Managing Director and Chief Economist with the Vancouver Board of Trade

... past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia

... former board member of Royal Roads University and University of Victoria

... lawyer in the area of complex litigation

... CEO with information technology businesses

... executive leadership roles

... elected Bencher of the Law Society of BC

... Adjudicator on Law Society Panels

... President of British Columbia Law Society

... appointed to the National Energy Board of Canada

... specialist in project management, business and technical analyst services

... Corporate Counsel    

... principal and director of private consulting firms

I don't see any at home parents responsible for trying to maintain a household budget in there anywhere ... or a student ... a minimum wage earner ... a retail clerk.  Shouldn't there be room for them on the Commission, at least in an advisory role to explain what it's like to be on an actual budget.

Now don't get me wrong ... I won't find fault with anyone that's pulled themselves up and been successful, but we can't all be doctors, lawyers, and the like.  And we don't all hold jobs and positions where the pay cheque being taken home is more likely a million dollars or more, rather than fifty or sixty thousand a year.

I'll say it again ...it is NOT up to BC Hydro to charge me an added extra fee, to pay for losses it may incur with those unable to pay their bills.  AND ... the BC Utilities Commission, while maybe having a legal right to approve it, has no moral right to impose this on us.  The ONLY thing they should be doing is setting the rates to be charged for the services we ask for.

BC Hydro is setting the example of new ways to collect more from us, so get ready to see it added elsewhere soon.  Perhaps everyone's favorite semi-government entity, ICBC, is already considering this little money maker?  I wouldn't be surprised.

In Kamloops, I'm Alan Forseth.  The floor yours now so please feel free to post your Comments below.