Hydro rate increase

Hydro rates went up across the province yesterday increasing for the peak period to 18 cents per kilowatt hour.

The Ontario Energy Board says the hike is necessary due to lower than expected electricity usage over the winter. The Progressive Conservative party says in a release that the hike will cost the average ratepayer an additional $37 a year. The release claims that Ontario’s energy rates are rising at a faster rate than any other jurisdiction in North America.

PC energy critic John Yakabuski says in the release that only in Ontario could this happen…that if you use too much power, rates go up and if you conserve energy, rates still go up.