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QUEEN’S PARK – Today Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford, called on Premier Dalton McGuinty to end spiraling increases in hydro bills, starting by allowing Ontarians to choose whether or not to participate in the smart meter program. “Families dread the arrival of their hydro bills because it keeps increasing, even though their incomes don’t,” said Hardeman. “The McGuinty government hiked hydro costs by 8% with HST, as well as increasing rates, downloading the cost of their green energy program and cash grabbing smart meters.” Yesterday the McGuinty Liberals used their majority to vote down a Progressive Conservative Opposition day motion that read: That the Legislative Assembly of Ontario calls upon the McGuinty government to suspend the Smart Meter time-of-use program until billing problems are fixed and Ontario families are given the option of whether to participate in the time-of-use program. According to Hydro One, the installed cost per smart meter is $700.54, which is tacked on to hydro bills. Since taking office, the McGuinty Liberals have increased hydro bills by 75%, which works out to $500 a year more for per family. By 2015, another $732 will be added on to pay for Dalton McGuinty’s energy taxes and experiments. Tim Hudak, Ontario PC Leader, has committed that a PC government would allow families to choose whether or not to install a time of use hydro meter. “Retired seniors, families with children at home and farmers with livestock all need to use electricity during the day,” said Hardeman. “They can’t afford to wait for Dalton McGuinty’s time of use rates and they shouldn’t be penalized for that.” - 30 - For more information, contact: |
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