Carbon tax expected to have minimal impact on Albertans' electricity bills
Large emitters already paying carbon price and new system will include subsidies for power generation
By Robson Fletcher, CBC News Posted: Dec 19, 2016 5:30 AM MT Last Updated: Dec 19, 2016 5:30 AM MT
Electricity prices for consumers aren't expected to rise when Alberta's new carbon tax takes effect in 2017, as large-scale emitters already face carbon pricing under existing provincial policy and planned changes in 2018 are to include new subsidies.
Electricity prices for consumers aren't expected to rise when Alberta's new carbon tax takes effect in 2017, as large-scale emitters already face carbon pricing under existing provincial policy and planned changes in 2018 are to include new subsidies. (CBC)
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When Alberta's new carbon tax kicks in on Jan. 1, 2017, it will raise the price of gasoline for your car, diesel for your truck, propane for your barbecue and natural gas for your furnace.
But what impact will it have on your electricity bill?
Very little, according to University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe.
"In short: electricity prices aren't expected to move at all on Jan. 1," he told CBC News.
What Alberta's new carbon tax will mean for these 6 households
Alberta carbon tax calculator: How much will you pay — or get back?
That's largely because the emissions of major power producers are already covered by Alberta's existing carbon pricing system that applies only to large emitters.
These emitters will continue under the same system until the end of 2017, according to the Alberta government.
A new pricing system will be implemented in 2018 but, even then, Tombe said it's not clear if that will result in increased electricity prices because of new, output-based subsidies for large emitters that will be introduced at the same time in order to help Alberta companies stay competitive.
"Carbon pricing will raises a firm's costs … the output subsidy then lowers costs," Tombe said, noting the net effect can be zero, depending on the size of the subsidy.
In Alberta's complex electricity market, Tombe said prices will be determined by the marginal bidder in the power pool, which will be natural gas, not coal. And he said natural gas prices are not expected to rise under the new pricing system — some may even fall — since the output subsidies will be calibrated to offset the carbon-pricing effect on natural gas costs.
Enmax spokeswoman Doris Kaufmann Woodcock also said customers shouldn't expect their electricity bills to rise on Jan. 1.
"Carbon costs for electricity generation are applied to generators, not retailers," she said in an email.
"Due to Alberta's competitive market structure, generators will initially absorb the costs involved and eventually the wholesale electricity market will adjust for the overall increases."
Large emitters already paying carbon price and new system will include subsidies for power generation
By Robson Fletcher, CBC News Posted: Dec 19, 2016 5:30 AM MT Last Updated: Dec 19, 2016 5:30 AM MT
Electricity prices for consumers aren't expected to rise when Alberta's new carbon tax takes effect in 2017, as large-scale emitters already face carbon pricing under existing provincial policy and planned changes in 2018 are to include new subsidies.
Electricity prices for consumers aren't expected to rise when Alberta's new carbon tax takes effect in 2017, as large-scale emitters already face carbon pricing under existing provincial policy and planned changes in 2018 are to include new subsidies. (CBC)
Related Stories
What Alberta's new carbon tax will mean for these 6 households
Alberta carbon tax calculator: How much will you pay — or get back?
When Alberta's new carbon tax kicks in on Jan. 1, 2017, it will raise the price of gasoline for your car, diesel for your truck, propane for your barbecue and natural gas for your furnace.
But what impact will it have on your electricity bill?
Very little, according to University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe.
"In short: electricity prices aren't expected to move at all on Jan. 1," he told CBC News.
What Alberta's new carbon tax will mean for these 6 households
Alberta carbon tax calculator: How much will you pay — or get back?
That's largely because the emissions of major power producers are already covered by Alberta's existing carbon pricing system that applies only to large emitters.
These emitters will continue under the same system until the end of 2017, according to the Alberta government.
A new pricing system will be implemented in 2018 but, even then, Tombe said it's not clear if that will result in increased electricity prices because of new, output-based subsidies for large emitters that will be introduced at the same time in order to help Alberta companies stay competitive.
"Carbon pricing will raises a firm's costs … the output subsidy then lowers costs," Tombe said, noting the net effect can be zero, depending on the size of the subsidy.
In Alberta's complex electricity market, Tombe said prices will be determined by the marginal bidder in the power pool, which will be natural gas, not coal. And he said natural gas prices are not expected to rise under the new pricing system — some may even fall — since the output subsidies will be calibrated to offset the carbon-pricing effect on natural gas costs.
Enmax spokeswoman Doris Kaufmann Woodcock also said customers shouldn't expect their electricity bills to rise on Jan. 1.
"Carbon costs for electricity generation are applied to generators, not retailers," she said in an email.
"Due to Alberta's competitive market structure, generators will initially absorb the costs involved and eventually the wholesale electricity market will adjust for the overall increases."
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