Communities pursuing affordable electricity

A group of eight Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities are working together to pursue affordable electricity for community members.
“This is a huge step forward we are taking as a collective to resolve the systemic problem of underfunding and fuel shortages that plague our communities every year,” said Wawakapewin Chief Joshua Frogg during a Feb. 8 press conference at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay. “We are thankful for the opportunity to show our First Nations are committed to working together to resolve these issues.”
Frogg signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) along with representatives from Eabametoong, Muskrat Dam, Nibinamik, North Spirit Lake, Poplar Hill, Weenusk and Wunnumin Lake to work cooperatively to pursue long and short-term goals to provide affordable electricity in their communities. The eight communities are currently served by independent power authorities.
The MOU calls for a meeting with the federal government to resolve emergency diesel shortfall issues, explore alternative renewable energy options and negotiate bulk fuel purchasing agreements and other agreements to provide affordable electricity to the communities.
“It is a real challenge for our communities to live under these conditions,” Frogg said, noting his community does not have an airport and does not receive subsidies for their diesel-powered electricity generation plant as other First Nation communities do. “It’s time the government recognizes and does something before something else happens that could threaten the health and safety of our community members.”
Joe Kakegamic, former chief of North Spirit Lake, said his community’s nursing station and school are shut down from time to time due to power shortages.
“We’ve lost all three of our generators at one time,” Kakegamic said. “And we are still repairing these generators at a very high cost. All the other things we are doing are put in the back until we can get these generators paid up.”
Kakegamic said when the power is off, community members cannot keep their baby formula refrigerated.
“Without lights, our school remains closed,” Kakegamic said. “Our nursing station is shut down, (open) only for emergencies at times.”
Amos Martin, band administrator in Wunnumin Lake, said his community does not know if they will be able to use their winter road this year to transport diesel fuel for the community’s electricity generation plant or other uses.
“Even this morning I was talking to my wife and she told me the power was out,” Martin said. “That means the school is not open, (nor) the nursing station.”
Martin said any repairs to the electricity generation plant require outside help as there are no qualified people in the community.
“Neighbouring communities Kingfisher and Kasabonika are provided with electrical services by Hydro One Communities,” Martin said. “The existing (electricity) rate structure in Wunnumin has been in place for about 10 years. Since that time, the price of fuel, which drives the cost of providing electricity to the community, has increased by 225 per cent, from $0.40 a litre to $1.30 per litre in 2011. And this does not include transportation costs.”
Martin said the community is currently looking into alternative ways to bring fuel into the community, noting the power authority uses about 900,000 litres of fuel per year.
“Sixty per cent of the electricity is consumed by residential customers, who provide 26 per cent of revenue,” Martin said. “Institutional customers provide 41 per cent of revenue while consuming 16 per cent of the power.”
Martin said most community members are on low incomes and most jobs in the community are seasonal.