THURSDAY
S I N C E
NOVEMBER 28, 2013
1 8 9 5
Vol. 118, Issue 188
105
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
FortisBC rate hike plugs in New Year’s Day
PHILIPPINES FUNDRAISER THIS SUNDAY
Company has interim approval for 3.3 per cent increase BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
New year’s cheer will probably be followed by a new year jeer when FortisBC electrical customers start paying a 3.3 per cent rate increase effective the first day of 2014. “We filed an application for the 3.3 per cent increase with the BC Utilities Commission in July,” confirmed Neal Pobran, FortisBC corporate communications manager. “And we did get interim approval for that rate increase.” Pobran said the interim approval allows for the rate increase effective Jan. 1, however the rates setting procedure is ongoing and could be subject to change based on that regulatory process. “If the rate changes, customers’ bills will be “Even with adjusted accordingly,” (BC) Hydro’s he added. increases we The FortisBC rate increase confirmation will still be paying more.” comes on the heels of BC Hydro’s announceDIETER BOGS ment this week when Energy Minister Bill Bennett laid out that company’s 10-year plan that includes a 15 per cent rate hike in the next two years, and then 10.5 per cent three years after that. Although those rate hikes appear to be monumental, FortisBC customers are currently paying more for electricity and will continue to pay more, said Trail Mayor Dieter Bogs. Bogs is chair of a mayoral committee that addressed Les MacLaren (Assistant Deputy for the Ministry of Energy) with a report from the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society (LCCDTS) which illuminated the fact that FortisBC residential consumer rates are, on average, 20 per cent higher than its counterpart, BC Hydro. The energy report was commissioned earlier this year by the Energy and Sustainability Committee of the LCCDTS to review and compare the rate disparities. “Our objective is to find out what can be done to ensure that our rates are closer to BC Hydro,” said the mayor. “Even with Hydro’s increases we will still be paying more,” he explained. “Because we are already paying up to 25 per cent higher and will see more rate increases over the next five years,” said Bogs. See MAYOR, Page 3
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Siony Thompson, member of the West Kootenay Filipino Canadian Society, is organizing a fundraiser in the Genelle Community Hall for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. The event is Sunday from 1-4 p.m. and will feature tea, coffee and snacks with the music of Ray Bouliane. Many local businesses have donated festive baskets that will be raffled off that day with all proceeds going directly to people in the Philippines who have been affected by the devastating storm.
CHARLES BAILEY THEATRE
Renovations and big show lead off new season BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
The Trail and District Arts Council (TDAC) has only recently submitted its proposal for a new business plan for the venerable Charles Bailey Theatre but the council and the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) have already stepped up its game for the coming concert season. Canadian icon Bryan Adams will bring his Bare
“ I want to know more about mutual funds.”
Bones acoustic tour to the Greater Trail Community Centre on Feb. 24. As well known as Adams may be, the process of booking an artist of this kind of renown for a town the size of Trail was no small effort, according to Mark Daines, manager of facilities and recreation for the RDKB. “We started making contact with some of the booking agencies to see what kind of acts might be avail-
able,” Daines said. “I started a dialog with Live Nation (a major U.S. live events and concert promotion company) and we had a lot of back and forth, whether it fits on the tour, fit with their plan and numbers. “Basically from their perspective they wanted to nail down venues along the tour route.” Although the $113 ticket price may potentially be the highest ever charged for a
show at the Charles Bailey, Daines says he thinks it’s well worth the price considering the artist. “For this venue, the intimacy of a solo show like this, the price is reasonable,” he said. “Bryan Adams appeals to a much broader range of market than some of the acts that we’ve had in. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing off the hook since we announced the show.” See MANAGER, Page 3
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