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The company you keep BC's electricity utility is forming alliances with a trio of questionable corporations. Arthur Caldicott BC Hydro does business with many companies, and has many companies. Three of them - Williams, Enron, Calpine, and BC Hydro's own Powerex - are all implicated in activities that show a corporate ethic that leaves room for improvement. If these were the guys our daughter was dating, we'd be worried. Williams. BC Hydro is a partner with Williams in the Georgia Strait Crossing (GSX) Pipeline Project - a natural gas pipeline across Washington State, under the Strait Of Georgia, to Vancouver Island. In Washington State, the Williams pipeline company has tested only 11% of their system, and inspected only 17%, compared to other operators who have a 100% record. http://ops.dot.gov/bellingham1/WAstatefinalsummary.htm On May 1, 2001, the Federal Energy Review Commission (FERC) slapped an $8 million fine on Williams for manipulating power in California in order to boost the price of the commodity. Kate Berry, Orange County Register ... http://www.ocregister.com/sitearchives/2001/5/1/business/williams00501cci3.shtml Enron, an Alberta energy
company. In their own words, Enron "makes and transforms
commodity markets". Enron and Powerex are charged with price
fixing in the Alberta electricity market. Powerex is a the trading
arm of BC Hydro. Transforms commodity markets, indeed! Calpine. BC Hydro's partner
in Port Alberni Generation Project.
Calpine attempts to manipulate schoolchildren with frightening videos, and
makes sizeable contributions to friendly political candidates. |