Hydro One presents counter-proposal on seasonal rate elimination 

 

By Chad Ingram 

 

Hydro One has presented a counter-proposal to the Ontario Energy Board, as it asks the province’s energy regulator to reconsider a plan to scrap a special rate class for seasonal residences.

 

As previously reported, since 2015, the OEB has given direction that it intends to eliminate the rate class for cottage properties, the plan to re-categorize those properties as either medium-density (R1) or low-density (R2) classes, depending upon location. Bills in the R2 class are higher since they entail greater delivery fees, and Hydro One has said that plan would negatively impact some 54 per cent of its seasonal customers, with their bills increasing substantially.

 

“We submitted a proposal to the OEB about an alternate way to handle this,” Imran Merali, vice president of customer service for Hydro One, told the Times. According to Merali, while the OEB plan would see bills for its seasonal rate customers increase about $1,000 a year, the proposal Hydro One has submitted to the OEB would see that increase reduced to approximately $65 per annum.
“We really want to get the message out to our customers that we’re advocating on their behalf,” said Merali, adding Hydro One is also hoping customers will get involved

 

An updated section on the utility’s website allows customers to review Hydro One’s report to the OEB and have frequently-asked questions answered. It can be found at https://www.hydroone.com.