Province Offers Relief In Hydro Bills While Opposition Calls It Band-Aid Solution

By: Nick Liard

Sudbury MPP and Minister of Energy Glenn Thibeault believes the H-S-T reduction on Ontario hydro of 8 per cent will go a long way to lowering utility costs.

The announcement was made during Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Throne Speech on Monday and Thibeault was in Sudbury saying it will directly benefit those in the North.

Thibeault says it will save the typical Ontario household about 130-dollars a year and if passed will come into effect January 1st.

President and CEO of Greater Sudbury Utilities, Frank Kallonen says they have been receiving a large number of complaints over high rates but it’s nothing new and any relief for customers is good news.

He also says they will double the Residential and Rural Rate Protection Plan to help cut higher bills in rural and remote areas of the province.

The debate is on over the rebate for electricity bills.

Opposition party’s are saying there should have never been a tax on hydro in the first place.

Nickel Belt NDP MPP France Gelinas says that announcement was not the one she was expecting.

She was hoping for an announcement saying the province will not sell Hydro One.

Critics also say the rebate will put taxpayers on the hook for one billion dollars a year to subsidize the rebate.