The chair of the Manitoba Hydro board of directors has resigned only two years after his appointment.
Manitoba’s NDP government appointed Ben Graham to chair the board of the Crown corporation in 2023. He resigned last week, Hydro communications director Scott Powell said Sunday.
“We are saddened to learn of Ben Graham’s departure,” Powell said in a statement, crediting Graham for leading Hydro through strategic changes.
“His charm, business acumen and sharp insight will be missed,” he said.
Graham previously served as CEO for Manitoba Public Insurance and head of Manitoba Blue Cross.
He joined Hydro in December 2023 to replace Edward Kennedy, who served as board chair when the former Progressive Conservative government unveiled an energy “roadmap” that called on the Crown corporation to double or triple its existing 6,100-megawatt generating capacity within 25 years.
That framework envisioned Hydro continuing to burn natural gas at its Brandon generating station well into the coming decades — a policy position contrary to the incoming NDP government’s commitment to wean Hydro off fossil fuels entirely.
The NDP government has since signed off on a Hydro plan to build three new 250-megawatt gas-burning fuel turbines in Brandon.
Graham’s resignation arrived the same week Hydro published a “road map” toward a new plan to increase generating capacity by 900 megawatts. This plan included the 750-megawatt gas turbine project in Brandon as well as the province’s previously announced plans to partner up on 600 megawatts of wind power with Indigenous-led renewable energy companies.
On top of building up its generating capacity, Hydro faces a $35-billion tab to replace aging and deteriorating infrastructure, including sections of its main transmission lines and most of its hydro-electric stations.
Hydro also carries $25 billion in debt.
In spite of these financial pressures, the NDP government effectively prevented the Crown corporation from raising rates this year by directing Hydro not to seek a new rate application.
Critics of the Crown corporation argued that move paved the way for higher rate hikes in the coming years.
Public Interest Law Centre lawyer Byron Williams, who represents the Consumers Coalition at Hydro hearings before the Public Utilities Board, said Graham delivered “outstanding service to Manitobans” even though his clients did not always agree with former board chair.
“They appreciated the breadth of his vision, his willingness to disrupt the status quo and his forthright approach to principled decision making,” Williams said in a statement.
Manitoba Finance Minister Adrien Sala, the minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, thanked Graham in a statement for “restoring energy reliability and affordability.”
Manitoba Hydro didn’t specify who will act as board chair following Graham’s resignation.
