The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors (HRAI) of Canada recently reported on the decision of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (AEUB) regarding the transfer of certain businesses from ATCO Gas and ATCO Electric to Direct Energy. A number of new developments have occurred since then, as reported by HRAI below.
First, both ATCO and Direct Energy have taken a strong position with the AEUB that the Alberta HVAC Coalition should not be awarded any costs in the proceeding, because in their opinion the Coalition does not in any way represent a public interest, but rather the narrow commercial interests of its members. Nor did they feel that the Coalition made any meaningful additional contribution to the hearings beyond the contributions of other intervenors. The Coalition has responded to these arguments and is hopeful that the Board will recognize their contribution by awarding full costs.