Durham PC Association

Dalton McGuinty’s Price Hikes Will Cost Ontario Families At Least $350 Per Year on their Hydro Bills News QUEEN’S PARK – Dalton McGuinty is now planning to increase electricity prices for the fourth time since 2008 and the second time in four weeks. The Ontario Energy Board itself estimates that this latest McGuinty hydro price increase will single-handedly drive up a typical family’s energy bill more than $90 a year. When this latest hydro-bill cash grab is combined with the higher prices that Ontario seniors and families are already paying due to the sweetheart Samsung deal, the so-called ‘smart meter’ plan, and the debt retirement charge, the average family’s hydro bill is expected to increase by over $350 per year. The McGuinty Liberals next planned price increase involves sneaking a $53 million hidden hydro tax on to Ontario hydro bills. And on July 1st, every Ontario family will see their hydro prices shoot up by an additional 8% when Dalton McGuinty’s $3 billion HST kicks in. The HST alone will further drive up hydro bills by at least $8 a month. Quotes “While Ontario families and seniors make tough decisions to balance their household budgets, Dalton McGuinty continues to pile on to the burdens that they face each and every day. It is time that Dalton McGuinty finally came clean with Ontario families and let them know just how many more hydro tax, fee and rate increases are on the way.” – Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak “Ontario families cannot afford to be paying $350 more per year on their hydro bills. Worse yet, these tax and rate hikes are paying for Dalton McGuinty’s sweetheart deals.” – John Yakabuski, Ontario PC MPP for Renfrew – Nipissing – Pembroke and Critic for Energy Quick Facts On April 15, 2010, the Ontario Energy Board announced that tiered pricing paid by Ontario families will increase to 6.5 cents per kWh (from 5.8 cents) and 7.5 cents per kWh (from 6.7 cents) above 600 kWh. This represents a 75% increase in electricity rates since Dalton McGuinty became premier. According to the Ontario Energy Board, the estimated bill impact of this latest rate hike is about $7.60/month (based on 800 kWh/month use) when compared to the prices that Ontario families currently pay (Source: Ontario Energy Board Backgrounder, April 15, 2010). This is just the latest in a long string of hydro tax and rate increases presided over by Dalton McGuinty. Other examples include: the $8 a month HST hydro tax grab; the $38 a year loss of small-volume discount; the $5 a month “Smart Meter” program fees; the $53 million dollar secret backdoor energy tax; the $5 a month so-called “green” subsidy; the bill for the $437 million Samsung deal; the $2.75 a month OPG rate increases; and the bill for $1.6 billion in Hydro One transmission expenses. More Ways to Get Involved


Copyright 2008 Durham PC Association Website by Now Creative Design.