Compensation buck should stop with Hydro
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Updated: September 26, 2009 10:33 PM
Contracting out work has become the modus operandi for private corporations and now government.
Both say it saves money, which is no doubt true, but they don’t admit it also helps ducking responsibility when something goes wrong.
BC Hydro and the BC Transmission Corporation are Crown corporations, which means they are, essentially, run by the provincial government.
When a contractor for the BC Transmission Corporation cut a tree onto the power lines near Cowichan Lake Road on June 30, a power surge blew out electronics in more than 200 homes.
BC Hydro says it’s not responsible for the damage. It maintains the contractor — or the BC Transmission Corporation because it hired the contractor — is. The contractor, through its insurance company, denies this.
But by its own logic hydro’s position is flawed. BC Transmission Corporation manages hydro assets on behalf of hydro, therefore BCTC is an agent for hydro.
And if the contractor is an agent for BCTC, it follows that…well you get the picture.
The act which governs hydro states the utility company is responsible for any damage caused by negligent acts by itself or its agents.
It would then behoove BC Hydro or the BC Transmission Corporation — take your pick — to take full responsibility for the damages and then go after the contractor to recoup the losses.
As we all know, though, when it comes to legalities, lawyers tell their clients to never admit anything.
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