Calgary-based TransAlta facing $20M class action lawsuit

A class action lawsuit against Calgary-based TransAlta Corporation has been filed in the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench.

It alleges the utility company deliberately timed power plant outages at peak times in order to drive up electricity prices and is seeking $20 million in damages.

Last July, Edmonton-based electricity consultant David Gray invited businesses to join a proposedlawsuit.

"That hard part is already done. The part we are about to do now is account for each particular customer and go seeking some restitution," Gray said at the time.

The class action is said to represent all individuals and commercial purchasers of power in Alberta for set periods of time in 2010 and 2011.

In a report last year, the Alberta Utilities Commission said the shutdowns cost consumers anywhere from 10 to 60 per cent more during those times.

The allegations have yet to be proven in court and a statement of defence has not yet been filed.

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