[Rant] Ontario Hydro-you used less energy so you have to pay more. Huh?

[seylz_gurl]

"Experts that spoke with Global News say there is no easy fix to the problem of soaring energy rates that have led to roughly 567,000 Ontarians owing more than $172.5 million in unpaid hydro bills."
"This spring, expect a series of upbeat news releases from Queen’s Park celebrating the arrival, at long last, of a balanced operating budget.
Don’t be fooled. Government debt is still growing in Ontario and now there are two levels of government adding quickly to the pile."
In the three-year period between fiscal years 2013 and 2015, Ontario added $16.3 billion in new debt, on average, per year.

"Between fiscal years 2016 and 2018, the province expects to add $10.3 billion per year on average.
Let’s be clear — $10.3 billion in new debt per year is still worrying, especially in a province as heavily indebted as Ontario."

http://www.torontosun.com/2017/02/07...whammy-of-debt

[seylz_gurl]

How much have hydro bills gone up?
http://globalnews.ca/news/3263787/ho...eally-gone-up/
In 2006, the average household in Ontario spent $40.03 per month on electricity usage. That’s before taxes, delivery and any other charges. By 2016, however, this amount had more than doubled to $83.18 a month.
That means anyone who follows the government’s advice and stays up late to do laundry and wash dishes is paying more than double what they did for electricity only a decade ago.

[heartgirl99]

How much have hydro bills gone up?
http://globalnews.ca/news/3263787/ho...eally-gone-up/
In 2006, the average household in Ontario spent $40.03 per month on electricity usage. That’s before taxes, delivery and any other charges. By 2016, however, this amount had more than doubled to $83.18 a month.
That means anyone who follows the government’s advice and stays up late to do laundry and wash dishes is paying more than double what they did for electricity only a decade ago.

[walkonby]

has anyone else gone into their Hydro online account ( used to be called TOU: Time Of Use, now called Power Lens ) to see the new energy savings thing that lets you earn points ( doing questionnaires about the home ) that can be used to obtain $10.00 GC's?
( from Home Hardware, Tim's, Starbucks, Hudson's Bay, Best Buy and Caplans Appliances.
I have 1,000 points already ( takes 2,000 to get a GC )

[Ciel]

Not aware of Hydro One offering surveys through online accounts as parent is not online.

Did see mention in news about there was a bill passed that prevents winter disconnections to hydro customers.

The bill got royal assent later in the day and gives the Ontario Energy Board power to order utilities to stop disconnections during cold weather months through changes to their licences, which could take until Monday.Most utilities had already agreed to voluntarily end winter disconnects, but Thibeault said some could not do so in time for a midnight Tuesday deadline, prompting the new law.
Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown said he was pleased the legislation passed, but added the government should have put the ban in place before winter.

“Unfortunately, this comes after far too many families and seniors were forced to suffer in the cold without power because the Wynne Liberals dragged their feet and played political games.”

Both the Conservatives and NDP said the government erred by putting the winter disconnection ban into a larger piece of omnibus legislation, the Burden Reduction Act, introduced last June.

https://www.thestar.com/news/queensp...dro-bills.html

[Ciel]

Noticed that Hydro One has posted about their Winter Relief Program:
http://www.hydroone.com/OurCompany/N...customers.aspx

Utility still mentions Time of Use on its website.
@walkonby -are you with Toronto Hydro? The utility has better graphics for its TOU rates!
http://www.torontohydro.com/sites/el...resirates.aspx

I noticed that Toronto Hydro calls its mobile app Power Lens.
http://www.torontohydro.com/SITES/EL...ensmobile.aspx
http://www.torontohydro.com/sites/el...alculator.aspx

[walkonby]

Noticed that Hydro One has posted about their Winter Relief Program:
http://www.hydroone.com/OurCompany/N...customers.aspx

Utility still mentions Time of Use on its website.
@walkonby -are you with Toronto Hydro? The utility has better graphics for its TOU rates!
http://www.torontohydro.com/sites/el...resirates.aspx

I noticed that Toronto Hydro calls its mobile app Power Lens.
http://www.torontohydro.com/SITES/EL...ensmobile.aspx
http://www.torontohydro.com/sites/el...alculator.aspx

Hi @Ciel

This is the website I logged in at


https://myusage.torontohydro.com/

Under the heading Make A Plan and Start Saving, there is a box called Home Assessment and Planning Tool, it was there that I did the survey questions that earned me points that may be used towards the GC's i mentioned.

[Ciel]

Not sure what similar offer Hydro One offers its customers who pay online. Interesting program to have, @walkonby !
I'd be shopping up a storm if I had more online gift cards.

[Shwa Girl]

So people who got their hydro cut may get it back. They want to make it law that you can't cut people off in the winter, leaving them in the cold and in the dark.

So they may reduce your hydro rate by 25%. This week. Why? NDP says they will reduce hydro rates by 17-30% if they get elected in June 2018.

Let the election games begin!

[SassyAshley]

NDP had me with Ontario needs to do away with Time of Use and making Rural and Urban Delivery changes the same.

[wendymac]

In the Toronto Star: Premier Kathleen Wynne’s hydro relief plan will kick in this summer

Hydro rates have doubled in the past decade and the Liberal government’s “25 per cent solution” will help cool bills. It will also take effect at a time when the next election is only about a year away.

https://www.thestar.com/news/queensp...is-summer.html

[heartgirl99]

* Mar 2 *

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toront...ynne-1.4006021

Premier Kathleen Wynne is set to unveil her government's plan to slash electricity prices for Ontario households and businesses.
Wynne will make the announcement at Queen's Park at 9:30 a.m.
"We're going to bring forward immediate relief," Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault told the Legislature Wednesday. He refused to confirm or deny a report in the Toronto Star that the plan will result in a 17 per cent cut to hydro bills, on top of an eight per cent rebate on HST that began January 1.

• Why hydro bills are so high in Ontario
• Wynne eyeing hydro delivery charges to cut bills

The Liberals have said repeatedly they would bring forward further reductions in hydro costs before tabling this year's budget. Originally, Wynne signalled the cuts would be targeted to people hurt the most by high electricity costs, but she has since shifted to promising lower rates across the board.
The average monthly hydro bill in Ontario has doubled over the past decade. The biggest single spike happened last year, when a taxpayer-funded hydro subsidy of 10 per cent expired, followed by summertime increases in the price of electricity.
As hydro bills rose in 2016, pollsters found electricity grew to become the top issue of concern among Ontario voters. Wynne's popularity dropped to record lows, and she acknowledged in November that she'd made a mistake by "not paying close enough attention" to the impact on people's lives.

[seylz_gurl]

^Wow, so public funds were used to pay for energy rebates. The timing is so questionable.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle34182155/

"Kathleen Wynne is frantically trying to make up for lost time in addressing public fury over soaring hydro bills heading into next year’s Ontario election."

[Shwa Girl]

^Wow, so public funds were used to pay for energy rebates. The timing is so questionable.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle34182155/

"Kathleen Wynne is frantically trying to make up for lost time in addressing public fury over soaring hydro bills heading into next year’s Ontario election."

@selyz_gurl, do you think they are reading this thread and trying to fix things.
Just kidding.

Yes. Public money. But so many people are freezing without heat and can't pay for their heat along with their other bills, this winter... I hope they get some help for this. Today the winds are blowing so hard and it's so c-o-l-d...

[Ciel]

That 25% -is 17% off actual rates plus the 8% Ontario rebate of the combined OST/HST taxes. Wish it were 25% off hydro rates plus the 8/13ths tax rebate.