I'm here today ... in order to talk about our next steps that our government will take to combat the federal government and their net zero electricity [regulations] and the threats that they pose to the livelihoods of Albertans.
According to the Alberta electric system operators own analysis, these regulations set an emission limit that is completely unattainable and would make Alberta's electricity system even more expensive, more than one hundred times less reliable than the province's supply adequacy standard. in fact, these regulations have caused so much uncertainty and set such absurd timelines that they've killed any hope of private industry bringing on any new, clean and reliable, unabated natural gas power generation. Alberta currently relies on natural gas for 75% of its power generation. Without adequate natural gas, our province would be at serious risk of regular brownouts and blackouts during the cold, dead of winter through the dog days of summer.
But these regulations do not just threaten the reliability of Alberta's electrical grid, they also jeopardize its affordability. Costs would increase by $30 billion dollars, raising electricity prices by 35% for hardworking Albertans. For Alberta families, that means that they would have to pay hundreds of dollars more on their electricity bill each year. That money out of their budget to pay for groceries, to fill up their tank, to drive their kids to hockey practice, or even to pay the fees for their kids to play the sports that they love to play. For Alberta businesses, this would mean thousands of dollars more in electricity costs. That's less money to pay for their employees, cover their expenses, and grow their business.
But the cost of an unreliable power grid are even more grim. If Ottawa had its way, Alberta would be left to freeze in the dark. In the depths of a minus 40 degree winter cold snap, families would be bundled up in their winter coats while sitting down for dinner. A dinner by flashlight or candle as they wait for the rolling blackouts to move on to the next community. There would be no streetlights working to light up your way home through the blinding blizzard as you squint to see the dimly lit brake lights of the car ahead of you. In the heat of summer, you'd be left worrying if the groceries left in your fridge or freezer will spoil before the blackouts end. And hospitals would be overwhelmed by the influx of patients suffering from heat stroke while trusting that their generators keep the lights on for their life-saving equipment. And if you don't believe me, just look at what happened in Spain and Portugal just a few days ago.
Protecting the reliability and affordability of our electricity is of utmost concern for our government because this is about protecting the lives and livelihoods of Albertans. And what did the feds tell us, Alberta? When we tried voicing our very real and serious concerns about these regulations, they told us, "Too bad, we're going to do it anyway". In fact, they refused to work with Alberta or listen to Canadians while developing their net zero electricity regulations. Do they really expect us to just freeze in the dark? Sadly, such uncaring arrogance is typical of this Liberal government.
And that is why, last November, we introduced the first Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act resolution so that our province could take strong and effective action against these destructive regulations. And today, we are taking another step to protect Albertans livelihoods by challenging the constitutionality of the net zero electricity regulations in the Court of Appeal of Alberta, and we look forward to making our case. Alberta will no longer tolerate having our livelihoods threatened, our industries targeted, and our resources landlocked by Ottawa. We will not accept their reckless and dangerous policies; policies that will harm our economy, stifle our energy industry, jeopardize the reliability of our electricity grid. and raise electricity prices for Albertans. Prime Minister Mark Carney must immediately commence working with our government to reset the relationship between Ottawa and Alberta with meaningful action rather than hollow rhetoric. We will not sit by quietly. Albertans expect to be treated with fairness and respect, just like any other province in this country. Our government will not blindly accept unconstitutional net zero regulations that put Albertans in harm's way. We will always stand up and fight for our province and we will not let Albertans freeze in the dark.