Newfoundland Power has not been a part of the process in the creation of a Rate Mitigation Plan to keep electricity rates from skyrocketing, and there’s a good reason for that says the energy minister.

The plan, unveiled yesterday, will cap increases caused specifically by Muskrat Falls or Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro at 2.25 per cent annually until the year 2030. But the retailer of the electricity, Newfoundland Power, is not included in that plan so further increases stemming from that company are possible.

The utility currently has two applications before the Public Utilities Board seeking increases totaling close to 7 per cent.

Minister Andrew Parsons says it’s up to the company to argue its case before the P.U.B. but government has no involvement in that process. Nonetheless, Parsons says the more information that Newfoundland Power can provide the public with on our power bills, the better – but they don’t seem to be willing. He would also like to see more detailed information in their rate applications.

He wonders why the utility won’t do that even though he and the Premier have asked them to do so. Minister Parsons would like to know what makes up that 7 per cent – how much is due to labour, how much in executive compensation, how much to shareholders, etc.