On Wednesday, June 14 Patrick Brown, the Progressive Conservative Leader, gave over 2,200 letters to the Ontario Energy Board. Why? Because Brown is protesting the proposal of a hydro rate hike. Brown strongly believes that written communication from Ontarians will send a message to Premier Kathleen Wynne. “It’s the right thing to do to stop (the increase),” Brown stated, “Kathleen Wynne should be saying no.”
Hydro One appealed to the Ontario Energy Board last week to increase electricity rates for the average customer to $2 to $3 a month each year for the next four years. If the Ontario Energy Board gives the go ahead, the rate changes will begin January 1, 2018.
As of right now, the government has signaled that it will not be standing in the way of the suggested hydro rate hike from Hydro One. Brown wrote to Wynne last week pleading her to reject this increase.
According to Brown, before Hydro One commences any rate hikes, the company needs to be “cleaned up”. He maintains that the salary figures made by the top five executives at the firm are “offensive”. These executives make $11 million a year combined. Elaborating further, Brown stated, “That’s not what you pay in Ontario. That’s not what you pay around Canada.”
To help aid the decision, the OEB will be holding public hearings throughout the province of Ontario on Hydro One’s application.
Glenn Thibeault, Energy Minister, told Brown in a letter on June 7 that despite the outcome of Hydro One’s application, the bills will be reduced as the government plans to cut rates by 25%.
“Despite claiming to support lowering electricity bills for Ontario families, you and your party all voted against the Fair Hydro Plan,” says Thibeault to Brown, “It has been nearly 100 days since you promised to release an energy plan – but Ontarians are still waiting.”
It’s not just Brown who is against this hydro rate hike, says NDP energy critic Peter Tabuns. Tabuns has stated that this will affect ratepayers and that the hike over four years will result in increased bills by nearly 20%.
Tabuns stated, “Kathleen Wynne can try to pass the buck, but the reason hydro prices are so unaffordable in our province is because her Liberal government, and previous Conservative governments, sold off, and privatized more and more of our electricity system.”
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