Perth Wellington's MPP says hydro ratepayers face a mean trick this weekend, as the price of power increases yet again.
Randy Pettapiece says the average customer will see another $53 added to their bill each year.
The MPP also points out that the government has announced that hydro bills will increase an an average of $137 next year. He says Ontarians already face electricity costs that are among the highest in North America.
On peak usage goes up 8.3 per cent to 17.5 cents/kWh, while mid peak rates will jump to 12.8 cents/kWh, a jump of 4.8 per cent. Off-peak usage will cost 8.3 cents/kWh -- a 3.7-percent increase.
In April, Pettapiece launched a petition calling on the government to immediately implement policies to ensure that families, farmers and businesses have affordable and reliable energy. He received overwhelming support for the petition.
At the end of September, Pettapiece received the government’s response to the petition. It provided further details on the government’s current plans to hike hydro rates over the next seventeen years. Pettapiece described the response as “ridiculously out of touch with reality.”
“This is just business as usual under the Liberals,” says Pettapiece.
In May, ratepayers already experienced an average increase of $68 to their annual hydro bill.
