The Consumer Advocate says, once again, Newfoundland Power’s proposed capital budget has gone through in full without the company having to justify a single penny before the public.

Dennis Browne says over the past 16 years, the utility has received every single cent it requested in its annual capital expenditures – more than $1.3-billion.

He doubts that any other public utilities board in Canada would refuse a public hearing and allow a $110-million capital budget application to proceed using guidelines that are known to be inadequate.

Browne says the P.U.B. is using a paper procedure known as the 2007 guidelines, which ensures that Newfoundland Power will not have to appear publicly before the board to justify the expenditures.

He accuses the company of not evaluating a reasonable range of alternative solutions.