XPost: bc.politics, van.general, vic.general   
   From: ConsRCons@govt.cda   
      
   No bloody wonder a province with surplus power - enough to sell to other   
   provinces and U.S. states - is about to RAISE hydro rates to British   
   Columbians once again.   They screw up, we pay.   
      
   Those who keep these screw-ups in office, deserve to pay.   
   ________________________________   
      
      
   CBC News -  Feb 21, 2013   
      
      
   BC Hydro company manipulated U.S. energy market   
      
      
   A BC Hydro company has been found to have manipulated the California   
   energy market in 2000 - 2001.   
      
      
   B.C. taxpayers could be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars   
   after a U.S. judge’s ruling that found massive market manipulation in   
   the California electricity market in 2000.   
      
   The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission judge said the companies   
   responsible included Powerex, a wholly owned subsidiary of BC Hydro.   
      
   California’s chaotic summer of 2000 saw waves of rolling blackouts and   
   sky- high electricity prices and the state's Public Utilities Commission   
   has long claimed that companies like Powerex manipulated the market for   
   record profits.   
      
   "It's an extraordinarily important case for California and a big victory   
   really for the consumers in California,” said Frank Lindh, the   
   commission’s general counsel.   
      
   The judge's initial decision, released this week, cited some 20,000   
   violations and affects about a dozen companies. But Lindh said Powerex   
   and Canadian firm TransAlta were among the biggest players.   
      
   If the commission accepts the ruling, as Lindh told CBC News he expects   
   will happen, the companies will owe Californians $1 billion in refunds,   
   plus $600 million interest.   
      
   About 30 other companies have settled for $3 billion so far, Lindh said.   
      
   BC Hydro was unavailable for comment Wednesday night.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)