Premier Alison Redford has ordered an independent panel to investigate why Albertans have been paying record power costs.

The government has told the Alberta Utility Commission (AUC) to freeze some of the fees on power bills while the review takes place.

For months the government has been blaming the high cost of electricity on facilities being shut down, a claim that it stands by.

Opposition parties have been questioning the government on the high cost of power. During question period Thursday the Premier made the announcement about the review, this prompted some opposition MLAs to accuse the government of flip-flopping.

"I'm actually shocked on the reversal from one day to the next," said Liberal MLA Kent Hehr.

The review was ordered on the same day that the controversial north-south transmission project was green lighted by the government.

Minister of Energy Ted Morton said the province was in need of upgrading its transmission system between Calgary and Edmonton, and he agreed with the recommendation of an independent panel that investigated the issue.

The panel concluded that the construction of the new lines would add a cost to Alberta's power bills, but Morton said that the decision to put the freeze on fees was not connected to the upcoming election.

"Is it related to an election coming up, actually I doubt it," the Minister said Thursday.

NDP Leader Brian Mason said he believes the order for the price freeze is a thinly veiled election ploy.

"What they are hoping for is not relief from higher power prices, but relief from voter anger during the election," Mason said.

The review is expected to be complete this summer, until then charges on power bills like distribution, transmission, rider and administration fees will all stay static.

With files from Kevin Armstrong