Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 07, 2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A3 Ever the eternal optimist, I am certain that Spring must be just around the corner. And of course when I think of Spring, I think of ViSpring Mattresses. What are they you wonder? Absolutely wonderful mattresses coming out of England! They are hypo allergenic comprised of all natural fibers. No foam or artificial components. Actually this company has been around for about one hundred years, but has just recently been offered in North America and we were one of the first dealers to bring them in. There are only 28 stores in North America where you can see these. The mattresses are hand made, with more coils than any other that we are aware of, and you are even able to order them with medium density on one side and soft on the other, so ensuring comfort to both you and your partner. A lot of us do not realize that foam tends to hold in moisture, which encourages mould and dust mites. The ViSpring all natural fibers wick away any moisture, and thus keeps it free of these nasty things. We have several different models on the floor so you can try them out and see what fits you best. However, we have always handled superior mattresses, and for many years we offered the Hypnos Mattress. We still do as it is also a wonderful unit, all natural and hand made and comes out of England as well. These mattresses have the distinction of having the Queen's Warrant - which means Queen Elizabeth actually sleeps on one of these units. We are probably one of the only dealers who carry both these top mattresses, and again, we have several on the floor so you can try them. Even if you have no intention of buying one of these units, it is worth you're time to come down and try them out, and just see what we are talking about. We promise, we won't get mad if you tell us you are just looking. It's fun for us to see your reaction when you try them. DREXEL HERITAGE . BERNHARDT . HANCOCK & MOORE . AMERICAN DREW By Cynthia Brick BARRYMORE . DURHAM . STANLEY . HANCOCK & MOORE . AMERICAN DREW There is no association between Brick's Furniture & The Brick Warehouse SPRING and SPRINGS... Email: bricks@ mts. net Website: www. bricksfinefurniture. mb. ca Cynthia and Fred Brick own Brick's Fine Furniture 145 MARKET AVE. . 957- 1211 wwwbricksfififinefurniture. com AGE BER K MO "... itisworth you're time to come down and try them out, and just see what we are talking about. " Gimli Fish 596 Dufferin Ave. 204- 589- 3474 625 Pembina Hwy. 204- 477- 6831 1604 St. Mary's Rd. 204- 256- 3474 Large Lobster Tails $ 10 ea. BEAT RISING F UEL COSTS - 58MPG!!! $ 149 B/ W 84 month finance, $ 0 down payment and 3.5% payment includes principlal, interest & taxes. MODEL BURLEC AA. Dlr permit # 4456 1486 Regent Ave. W 944- 6600 2014 COROLLA LE CVT GPS NAVIGATION with every purchase! Psychology works for: P ARENTING C HALLENGES Manitoba Psychological Society Visit us at www. mps. ca TOP NEWS WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014 winnipegfreepress. com A 3 A BID by the Selinger government and Manitoba Hydro to build two new dams and associated transmission lines faces an uphill battle when a special Public Utilities Board hearing on the plan starts March 3. Two independent reports prepared for the PUB's Needs For and Alternatives To ( NFAT) hearing paint a dim picture of the government's expectations of northern hydro development and Hydro's own research. The two studies, requested by the PUB in advance of the NFAT hearing, were done by La Capra Associates Inc. of Boston and Potomac Economics of Fairfax, Va. Both reports, with confidential information on Hydro's pricing for export power sales redacted, are posted on the PUB website. Collectively, the reports call into question the wisdom of spending billions in upfront capital costs on the Keeyask and Conawapa generating stations and accompanying transmission lines when one or both could be put on hold indefinitely in favour of building less costly combustion turbine plants that burn natural gas to produce electricity. " The economics used by Manitoba Hydro to arrive at their preference for the preferred development plan is not robust and, depending upon the perspective of the decision- maker, could actually conclude that other development plans are preferred," La Capra Associates ( LCA) said in its report filed to the PUB Jan. 24. The Selinger government and Hydro argue two dams are needed in the next decade not only to meet the province's energy needs - forecast to rise 80 megawatts a year - but to meet contractual demand to the west and in the U. S. LCA said much of Hydro's plans, and modelling to back them up, were done two years ago and are now out of date. " We should also note that these probabilities are the opinions of those experts at that time," LCA said in its report. " Decision- makers or other experts may have a different perspective on those probability assignments." Potomac Economics said what's changed is the advent of cheap natural gas through fracking ( horizontal drilling) in the United States and Canada, which has tapped into a vast supply of natural gas. " In particular, our models generally rely on lower natural gas price forecasts, lower growth rates of demand and lower quantities of coal- plant retirements," Potomac said in its Jan. 15 filing with the PUB. Both reports said Hydro's expectations of selling more surplus power on the grid because of the two dams may be overly optimistic. The government has said revenue from increased electricity sales to the northern U. S. and Saskatchewan will help pay for the two dams and keep domestic prices low for Manitobans, although built into Hydro's plans are annual rate increases of about 3.5 per cent for the next decade. LCA's analysis found the rates could vary over time, with significant increases forecast in later years. " While we recognize some value in viewing the potential impact of these development plans over a long time horizon, given the long life of hydro assets, we believe that viewing the results through other, shorter time periods can provide additional and perhaps even more valuable information to decision- makers," LCA said. What's also working against Hydro is its outlook covers 78 years, which makes it susceptible to market uncertainty and technological advances. " Given the relatively long time frame of these forecasts, it is plausible that technological advances could reduce the cost or increase the efficiency of the marginal combustion turbine, or cause alternative technology to displace the combustion turbine," Potomac said. " In both cases, the long- run capacity price could fall and reduce the forecast capacity revenues." Hydro and the NDP government argue hydro sales will rebound when natural gas prices rise and more coal- fired power plants in the U. S. either close or switch to natural gas. The NFAT hearing is scheduled to run until May 2. The PUB is to issue its report to the Manitoba government by June 20. bruce. owen@ freepress. mb. ca Cold water poured on Hydro ' The economics used by Manitoba Hydro to arrive at their preference for the preferred development plan is not robust and, depending upon the perspective of the decision- maker, could actually conclude that other development plans are preferred' - La Capra Associates in its report filed to the PUB Jan. 24 Hydro's export customers . Minnesota Power: Hydro has a deal to sell 250 megawatts ( MW) of firm power for 15 years, starting on June 1, 2020. This contract is contingent on Keeyask construction starting by 2016 and building a 500- kilovolt transmission line to deliver the power to Minnesota. Hydro has the option to exit the agreement if Keeyask is not built. . Wisconsin Public Service: Hydro has a deal to sell 100 MW of firm power for eight years, starting on June 1, 2021. This agreement is an extension of an existing agreement for 108 MW. It's also contingent on Keeyask being built. . Wisconsin Public Service: Hydro is in negotiations for up to 300 MW of system participation and surplus energy sales. It's also contingent on Keeyask. Additional agreements Hydro has two additional agreements contingent on new hydroelectric development: . A 15- year deal to exchange energy with Minnesota Power, up to 250 MW in any hour, starting on June 1, 2020. The idea is one would store power for the other, such as wind energy, for use at peak times. This depends on Keeyask being built. . A deal to sell 125 MW of firm system power to Northern States Power for four years, starting May 1, 2021. This agreement is contingent on the start of construction in Manitoba of at least 1,000 MW of new hydroelectric facilities by May 1, 2018. U. S. studies question plans for new northern dam construction By Bruce Owen WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES An artist's rendering shows the planned Keeyask generating station at Gull Rapids on the lower Nelson River just upstream of Stephens Lake. A_ 05_ Feb- 07- 14_ FP_ 01. indd A3 2/ 6/ 14 8: 48: 11 PM ;