Dear Editor:
Like many other businesses, FortisBC looks for meaningful opportunities to participate in the political process in British Columbia.
Generally, FortisBC makes contributions by purchasing tickets to select party hosted events. We think these events are important to attend as it provides another avenue to express our customers’ concerns through the political process.
For instance, the residential conservation rate was driven by provincial energy policy and then mandated by the BC Utilities Commission. We know there are concerns from certain customers regarding this rate, and we have been passing this message along to politicians attending these events.
As a regulated utility, all of FortisBC’s financial transactions are reviewed by the BC Utilities Commission. In fact, the regulatory process for reviewing rates is an open and transparent process that anyone can participate in.
The topic of political donations, including tickets purchased to attend party-hosted events is something the BCUC reviews annually. The cost of donations is covered completely by the shareholder, and not customers, in our electricity business.
And to clarify, the donation amounts quoted in Mr. Vlahovic’s recent Letter to the Editor in the Osoyoos Times are incorrect.
In 2012, FortisBC donated $24,500 to the NDP and $18,000 to the BC Liberals, not $524,500 and $518,000 as was originally published in his letter.
David A. Bennett
FortisBC
