By Sean Meyer/London Community News

Council has voted to say thanks, but no thanks, to further discussions between London Hydro and an Edmonton-owned utility company looking to explore partnership talks with the city.

After much debate and discussion during their Monday (Oct. 24) meeting — along with the input of a very boisterous public gallery — council decided to accept the presentation from EPCOR simply as information and continue efforts into looking at how hydro and water may be delivered as efficiently as possible in the future.

An amendment suggested by Mayor Joe Fontana to table further discussions with EPCOR until after city staff completed a report on the advantages of shared utility model was met with public outrage from the gallery and heated debate from the council floor. Despite the mayor’s intentions, several members stood to say they wouldn’t support anything that could lead to further talks with EPCOR.

“I would never support a motion that included an exclusive contract with a corporation like that. I am not ever interested in looking at that,” said Ward 6 Councillor Nancy Branscombe. “I think we do need to look at opportunities with hydro, but we have the cart before the horse here. This is not the way I want to do business, it isn’t prudent, it isn’t right for the citizens of London.”

Ward 2 Councillor Bill Armstrong added to Branscombe’s position, saying he had never seen the public speak out on an issue like the proposed talks with EPCOR.

“The message clearly was that (London) hydro is not for sale. We have a good hydro system here in London, it is running well,” Armstrong said. “I just don’t see the opportunities coming forward here as making any sense. Now, and in the future, I am not onside with this.”

Ward 5 Councillor Joni Baechler said she was concerned that having confidential discussions with EPCOR would cut the public out of the discussion. In addition she said it was inappropriate to have such discussions when council has not even decided it is interested in the utilities model.

“Tabling or referring is not the way to go. If any other corporation comes in, we simply receive the information with great appreciation and move on,” Baechler said. “If this council decides to enter into a utilities model, then we can ask for a request for proposals or public interest from all players and not just one.”

London City Manager Jeff Fielding said staff hadn’t even started discussion on the shared utilities model, adding there was anywhere from four to seven months of investigation ahead before a report could be prepared. Fielding said $200,000 had been set aside to work on this investigation. Fielding also said the investigation doesn’t commit the council to any particular direction.

Ward 3 Councillor Joe Swan spoke up in defence of the mayor’s proposal stating council agreed unanimously to look at a municipal utilities model before the EPCOR delegation ever came forward.

That delegation began what Swan called, “five days of public alarm.” He also pointed out that hydro rates are expected to rise 35-40 per cent over the next five years while the province works to reduce the number of public utilities from approximately 60 to seven or eight.

“Mergers and amalgamations are going to be here. We need to know we have a public utility that is delivered efficiently and with value,” Swan said. “We know our public water is not for sale; we’re not stupid, we understand that. We do need to know we can deliver that service with the right governance and accountability.”

Fontana said he wasn’t sure how a discussion on finding efficiency became a debate on the selling London Hydro. What he wanted people to understand was that he was elected one year ago to bring forward new ideas and work for change.

Without a change in thinking, Fontana said London residents are going to have to face seven and eight per cent yearly water increases every year moving forward — something he was not prepared to accept.

“We asked our administration to look at a shared utility model. It didn’t speak about selling London Hydro. We are not talking about selling. We should be looking at opportunities,” Fontana said. “Some people are comfortable with telling the citizens of London we are going to increase your rates seven or eight per cent a year. I am sorry; I am not prepared to just accept that. I am prepared to say let’s look at doing things different.”