Perth Wellington's MPP is encouraging residents concerned about increasing hydro rates to sign his petition.
Randy Pettapiece says rates are increasing again May 1st, because of lower than expected usage this past winter.
The latest hike will add nearly $38 more a year to the average hydro bill.
In fact, he says hydro bills have increased by about $187 a year just since this past November 2015.
And now he says the Ontario Energy Board has agreed to the latest increase due to a shortfall because people used less hydro this winter.
“People should be rewarded for saving energy, not penalized,” stated Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece. “Hydro rates are already skyrocketing, and now we’re paying more to get less.
“Thanks to a mild winter, many were able to keep their usage down,” he added. “You would think this would mean lower hydro bills. Instead, this government has chosen to hike rates and blame the weather.”
The petition is available at his website: www.pettapiece.ca/petitions.
Under the new rates, on-peak usage will cost 18 cents/kWh, mid-peak usage will cost 13.2 cents/kWh and off-peak usage will cost 8.7 cents/kWh. This is an increase of 2.8-percent, 3.1-percent and 4.7-percent, respectively.
