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Manitoba Hydro confirms increased Bipole costs

Manitoba Hydro has admitted that its controversial new transmission line – the Bipole III – will cost way more than originally expected. On Thursday, Hydro officials confirmed that the new price tag of the project, which was originally pegged at $2.2 billion, now stands at $3.28 billion. Officials said this new figure was arrived at by a group of three outside consultants.

The provincially-owned utility has been brushing off leaked reports from its own engineers, which showed the costs estimated closer to $4 billion.

Critics have long argued the longer selected Bipole III line, through Western Manitoba, is a waste of money.

Hugh McFayden, Conservative leader, expressed his concern over the cost overruns on Thursday.

“It raises questions about political interference and the credibility of management of Hydro when you get four different numbers on such a significant project over a period of six months.”

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