The New Democratic Party's energy and mines critic, John Horgan, says the public deserves to see the report prepared for the government on BC Hydro now that it's done.

"They should be releasing the damn thing," he said. "I just assumed they were going to make it public . . . The British Columbia government did a review and presented it to themselves."

The government ordered the review on April 7, 2011 to "develop options to reduce the impact of hydro rate increases on B.C. families." On March 1 the public utility had said it expected to raise rates by 10 percent a year for five years to pay for $6-billion in upgrades and new construction.

The provincial government has received the review from the panel, said a statement today from Rich Coleman, the minister of energy and mines, The Tyee reported earlier today. "We will review the report in detail and give its recommendations full consideration. We look forward to reporting out publicly in due course.”

Pointing out that hydro rates may affect the provincial budget dramatically, Horgan said the public paid for public officials to prepare the report on a public utility. "Why in the world wouldn't you let the public know what the recommendations are?"

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.