Protesters demand free electricity

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Hydro-Quebec is pulling the plug on errant customers on the Kahnawake Reserve.

Approximately 40 Mohawks marched through the reserve in mid-July to protest the huge company's efforts to collect $3 million in unpaid bills.

But claims that Natives are entitled to free electricity because of their inherent rights to the land and its resources hasn't phased Hydro-Quebec.

It has cut service to 40 commercial and residential clients on the Six Nations reserve since May. In doing so, Hydro-Quebec is following standard procedure for accounts in arrears, said spokesperson John Pelltier, adding the people had been warned.

"We sent letters to our customers but didn't receive payment over this period," said Pelltier.

In the last three years, approximately 400 clients have failed to pay their bills with the electrical company, some for a few months, others for years.

Most of the cases involve people who just don't have the money, said Pelltier, or who simply are bad customers.

"The case of political reasons are very few, 10 or 15 people, like the traditionalists who demonstrated this week," he said.

Most who had their lights turned out paid after their services were cut, Pelltier said.

He admits the mega-company's relationship with Kahnawake has been difficult in the past.

However, communication with band council has improved since the Oka crisis in 1990, and the chiefs support Hydro-Quebec's efforts in recouping the lost revenue, he said.

Unpaid hydro bills throughout Quebec account for an annual loss of approximately $100 million.