Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the wise use of energy, energy conservation and energy consumption in the Northwest Territories are all topics in today's session. I'd just like to touch on some of the not-so-wise use of energy by this government.
Mr. Speaker, the Taltson hydro system is both currently underused and underdeveloped. Since the closure of the Pine Point Mine in the late '80s, demand on the system has been steadily declining. The average of 10 megawatts being used for most of the year, with the capacity of 20 megawatts in the system, leaves us with 10 megawatts of excess power that represents a significant loss in potential revenues for the Power Corporation, which, in turn, results in higher energy costs for consumers.
Mr. Speaker, when this government had an opportunity to sell the surplus power as interruptible power to prospective consumers, and possibly utilize some to heat many of the government buildings at a very reduced rate, they did not take the initiative seriously and, subsequently, nothing materialized. Mr. Speaker, these recommendations, along with many other good suggestions on how this government could realize more energy revenues, thus resulting in lower rates for individual households overall, and the recommendations on how this government can reduce government infrastructure heating costs, were all reviewed and compiled in a detailed report paid for by this government five years ago.
Mr. Speaker, five years ago, when the prices of crude oil and other fossil fuels were at record lows, not taking action on any of these recommendations was construed as the best practice. But today, Mr. Speaker, we are in an energy crisis situation, one that requires immediate action on all fronts by this government. So, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to stress the importance of rising energy costs to northerners, and urge that this government make a wise decision and take a proactive approach to lessening some of the pressures of these rising, higher costs of living in the North for northerners, by seriously incorporating or revisiting some of the recommendations made in the report that was shelved five years ago. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause