Dave Bronconnier — serving the mandate of the city of Calgary since 2001

And let’s not forget the Calgary Herald, serving the mandate of the mayor for the same duration:

[Enmax Corp. Senior VP of Generation and Business Development Dave] Rehn, with 30 years of experience in the U.S. power industry, has been hired to build a generation company, bringing hands-on expertise in gas-fired, coal-fired, hydro and even nuclear-powered generation to the fore as Enmax embarks on an ambitious program of construction that will effectively remake the company.

“It’s a major change for sure, and it’s definitely gutsy,” says Larry Charach, a consultant with Edmonton-based Strategics Results Consulting Inc. who helped shape Alberta’s electricity sector restructuring in the mid-’90s. “It’s a risky business, with huge investments and a lot of uncertainty, including uncertainty around climate change,” he stresses.

Answer me this: Why is a city-owned utility involved in developing risky business ventures at direct competition with the private sector in order to serve customers well beyond the city limits? In the past seven years, Enmax has been under fire for undercutting its competition through price rebates which are subsidized by the Calgary taxpayer by means of a reduced dividend to city council. And now, this business venture is aimed at creating a de facto monopoly in Calgary and southern Alberta from the generation through the supply market to the consumer, a process which will discourage further investment from private energy suppliers. Does this fall under the mandate of our municipal government?

Further to that, why does the Herald dedicate over 1700 words toward what is essentially a fluff piece promoting this radical foray into new business venture? Is there no accountability in our local press?

Something stinks here.

UPDATE: After years of failure, I have gotten the Herald to wise up.

Still waiting for the royalty cheque, though.