The Atlantic premiers pose outside of the Churchill Falls generating station after wrapping up their meeting Friday. From left are P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz, Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams and New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham. - Submitted photo.

Premier Danny Williams says the Atlantic premiers had a frank and open discussion about the sale of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec, but neither he nor New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham have changed their positions.

"We certainly agreed to disagree," Williams told The Telegram Friday. "There's no change in positions from our particular perspective."

Last month, Graham announced his province had reached an agreement to sell most of NB Power's assets, including generating stations and the transmission grid, to the Quebec utility.

Williams responded by accusing Hydro-Quebec of trying to get a stranglehold on access to the hungry New England energy market.

He also called out Graham for entering into a side deal with Quebec in the middle of talks between all four Atlantic provinces on energy co-operation.

After a meeting of the regional premiers at Churchill Falls concluded Friday, Williams softened his tone somewhat.

"The premiers are good friends so this wasn't an exercise in taking Shawn Graham, or any of the other premiers, up to Churchill Falls and beating up on them," he said.

He called the discussion cordial, where all sides got to air their concerns.

Williams said his beef has always been with Hydro-Quebec, not New Brunswick.

"Ultimately, that deal is for the government of New Brunswick and the people of New Brunswick to decide," Williams said.

"Our issues are with Hydro-Quebec and the previous patterns of behaviour of that company and what they've done to us as a government and as a people."

The premier said he respected Graham's position even though he disagrees with it.

"They're going to do what they are going to do and they do it at their own peril."

Williams said Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter shares his concern about the deal, when it comes to gaining access to power customers in the Northeastern United States.

N.L., N.S., looking for guarantee

Both asked Graham at the meetings for a guarantee on access before the Hydro-Quebec deal is finalized by the end of March.

"We don't want to wait until April Fool's, when this deal goes through, and we find that we're now dealing with Hydro-Quebec and we're into the same tangle ... with the way they are handling the regulatory process in Quebec," said Williams.

"Give us guaranteed access so that we know that we're going to be able to get through and we're not going to be subject of the whims and fancies of Quebec."

Graham, however wouldn't commit to such an agreement.

"Today under the federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to be able to sell power into the United States, you have to have an open market system," he said.

"Today if the province of Newfoundland wants to look at a new transmission corridor through New Brunswick, that can still happen. Under these market rules, if there is any surplus power on that transmission grid, then it would have to go up for public auction and any jurisdiction could bid on it."

As for a suggestion that this province try to match Hydro-Quebec's bid for NB Power, Williams said the utility should remain owned by New Brunswick.

"We're simply not interested in going there because we don't think it's the right thing or the principled thing to do," Williams said.

dbartlett@thetelegram.com