Category Archives: Energy Probe News

Horizon Utilities, which distributes power in the two cities, is asking the provincial regulator to increase the distribution charge for power by almost 12 per cent effective January. And the utility says there will need to more increases in the future.

At the same time, provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath has started a campaign to cut bills by getting the provincial government to remove its portion of the new Harmonized Sales Tax.

Continue reading →

The Ontario Energy Board thinks you’re not paying enough for hydro so it’s yanking another $60 out of your wallet.

Ontario hydro ratepayers — already hammered by the HST, time-of-use pricing and rate hikes — will pay an added $240 million a year, the Ontario NDP says.

Officials at the provincial crown agency — whose salaries are paid for through hydro bills — decided earlier this year that utilities should be able to boost their rate of return to 9.85% from 8.39%.

Continue reading →

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is under fire for forcing smart meters onto the province’s electricity customers.

The meters make no economic sense for consumers, critics point out, costing consumers far more than can ever be offset through lower power bills.

The meters, in fact, make perfect sense when understood from Mr. McGuinty’s viewpoint, despite a total price tag estimated to run as high as $10-billion.
Continue reading →