Protesting high hydro

News — 09 November 2010

Angry electricity consumers will gather in Dryden to express their displeasure with Hydro One and the government of Ontario, Friday, Nov. 19.

A peaceful protest will take place from 4-5 p.m. at the provincial government building and anyone who has concerns with Ontario’s public electricity utility is invited to attend.

Kelly Getson and Becky Fediuk say their efforts to attract government attention to the plight of northern residents that have reported 20 to 40 percent spikes in their Hydro One bills, began as a Facebook page.

On that social media website, ‘Join The Fight Against Hydro 1 Rates’ has gathered close to 1,000 followers and its comments section has become an outlet of widespread frustration and anger.

Getson says that level of frustration needs to be expressed in the real world if they want the province to take notice.

“For the government to recognize there is a problem, a lot of noise needs to be made,” said Kelly Getson . “(Premier) Dalton McGuinty has been burying his head in the sand and denying that people are having a hard time with hydro rates. In order for anything to happen, the public has to bring this to his attention.”

Ontario’s NDP have been making hay on the issue since Nov. 1, when a motion put forward by party leader Andrea Horwath to remove the 8 per cent HST from Hydro One billing, was defeated at Queens Park.

““This government has made decisions that are driving the cost of hydro through the roof. It is not acknowledging, not paying attention, not listening to the people of this province who are saying they simply cannot afford to pay their bills anymore,” said Horwath in a recent press release.

Long standing critic of Hydro One, Kenora/Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton has pledged to attend the event and lend his support.

Getson says the province’s newly formed Northern Ontario Energy Credit seems to have income guidelines that disqualify most ‘low-to-middle income’ residents from receiving any significant assistance.

“It’s not even a band-aid on what people are paying out,” says Getson. “People are getting Hydro bills that are bigger than their mortgage payments. I know a girl who just got a $378 hydro bill for one month. I know another girl on equal billing who received a $1,200 reconciliation bill — after paying $200 every two months.”

Getson says the spike in rates is particularly hard on seniors and those on fixed incomes. She says those effects will be exacerbated when Hydro One implements its ‘time-of-use’ restrictions in Northwestern Ontario.

Already underway in most areas of the province, time of use restrictions boost electricity rates during peak hours (7-11 a.m. and 5-9 p.m.).

“People on fixed incomes are seeing such an increase in their Hydro that some of them are going to bed at 6 p.m. because they can’t afford to have the lights or T.V. on,” said Getson. “In an area such as this, with our loss of jobs, families are having to decide between putting food on the table or paying their hydro bill.”

Getson encourages residents to join in the discussion at the Facebook page and show support at the Nov. 19 protest.

“We encourage people to share their stories,” said Getson. For more information or to lend your support, send an email to change_can_happen@hotmail.com or check them out on Facebook.

By Chris Marchand

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About Author

chrismarchand

Chris Marchand is a native of Dryden, Ontario. He served his first newspaper internship at The Dryden Observer in 1998 while attending journalism studies at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops B.C. He's worked desks as both reporter and editor at the Fernie Free Press as well as filled the role of sports editor at the Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Marchand was named editor of the Dryden Observer in Aug. 2009.