NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is in the area today discussing rising hydro costs for dairy farmers.
Area farmers say the time-of-use system does not take into consideration the agriculture business that cannot tailor its hydro use to off-peak times.
Dairy Farmer Mark Stannard says he has to milk his cows two times a day and in the winter time both of the milking times and cooling periods are at peak hours.
"All sectors of agriculture [are affected] the vegetable guys, when those vegetables coem off the field and they have to be cooled they can't sit out on a wagon until it's off peak, that's not a quality product," says Stanndard.
Another farmer Bernerd Nelson says he's installed energy efficient equipment in his operation and reduced his energy usage by 25% but that's not being reflected in his bill.
"The trouble is with the price increase we're still paying the same amount," says Nelson.
Horwath says her party has been fighting rising hydro rates and the privitization of Hydro One for many years because of these difficulties and others.
"We're going to continue that fight. We're going to continue that fight and try to prevent them from going any further than they've already gone. But I have to say a lot of the damage has already been done and we're very very worried," says Horwath.
If she is elected in 2018 she will reduce energy rates for everyone and create an agricultural specific plan.
