Hydro One Green Energy Act Cash Grab In For a Bumpy Ride

by John Laforet
posted on August 21st, 2009 at 14:32:26 pm

On August 17th I wrote an entry called ‘Hydro One Seeks Permission to Raise Distribution Rates 24.3% Over Two Years Cites Green Energy Act as Reason’ and quoted George Smitherman’s BS comment about how the Green Energy Act would only increase the rate of electricity by 1% per year.

On August 18th www.smalldeadanimals.com posted ‘Y2Kyoto: We Don’t Need No Stinking Giant Fans’ to help get this story out.

On August 19th netnewsledger.com wrote an article called ‘McGuinty Green Will Turn Income Statements Red‘ further carrying this story along and helping to keep it alive.

Today, on August 21st,  John Yakabuski, the Energy Critic for the Progressive Conservatives issued the following press release ‘Liberals Misleading on Energy Prices‘ essentially calling out the Liberal government for the reasons myself, Kate at smalldeadanimals.com and James at netnewsledger.com have. I was glad to see him it all the points that have been previously made, including that this massive cash grab is also subject to the HST when it is implemented in 2010.

I sincerely hope Yakabuski gets some play on his release in hopes of helping to force the government to back down on this. As President of Wind Concerns Ontario, I can tell you that our organization will be standing up for Ontarians in opposing this massive cash grab on behalf of Hydro One (a 100% provincially owned entity).

Now it is the mainstream media’s turn to weigh in on this. The public can also comment by writing boardsec@oeb.gov.on.ca to voice your opposition. Be sure to cite board file EB-2009-0096 when doing so. Be sure to send them your comments before September 16th 2009. For comment ideas, feel free to view any of the links above or contact me directly.

Below is Yakabuski’s release.

LIBERALS MISLEADING ON ENERGY PRICES 8/21/2009 11:00:00 AM

(Ottawa, ON) – Energy Critic John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP) said today that Dalton McGuinty and George Smitherman have clearly pulled a fast one on Ontario electricity customers. Yakabuski pointed out that the recent request by Hydro One for shocking rate increases is proof that Energy Minister Smitherman was not being honest when he repeatedly claimed that the “Green Energy Act” would only add 1% per year to your electricity bill.

“This is simply unacceptable. How can Dalton McGuinty and George Smitherman allow this to happen?” said Yakabuski. “Have they no regard for what people are going through these days? And worse yet, the McGuinty Liberals will rub salt into the wound when they add a further 8% to your bill with the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax on July 1, 2010.”

Hydro One’s request would see the delivery charge on the average residential customer’s bill rise by 9.5% in 2010 and 13.3% in 2011. Some customers could see their charges go up by as much as 24.6% next year. Electricity is an essential commodity. While everyone is encouraged to conserve, this rate increase will do the opposite. As these charges are for delivery, bills will rise even when consumers use less. Yakabuski assures that Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservative Caucus will not allow this to go unchallenged.

“The Liberal government was warned that their policies would lead to this, but they denied it or just didn’t seem to care,” said Yakabuski. “This could be devastating to so many Ontarians already struggling to pay their bills. We will fight tooth and nail to protect families, seniors and all electricity ratepayers from these harmful increases. We will hold the Liberals accountable.”

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For More Information:

Mr. John Yakabuski

(613) 639-3005

Tags: Dalton McGuinty, Distribution Rate Increases, George Smitherman, Green Energy Act, Hydro One, John Yakabuski, Ministry of Energy, netnewsledger.com, Ontario Energy Board, Ontario Liberal Party, Ontario PC Party, smalldeadanimals.com, Wind Concerns Ontario