FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Aug. 6, 2015
SIMCOE – Hydro One led the list for numbers of complaints of government organizations the Ontario Ombudsman investigates, but it will be the last time this will occur.
The Ontario Ombudsman’s 2014-2015 Annual Report highlights a troubling amount of complaints related to Hydro One’s billing and customer service practices. Receiving 3,499 complaints in 2014-15, Hydro One was the most-complained-about organization under the Ombudsman’s oversight.
“This report is an indictment on how Hydro One treats its customers, and it reflects the Liberal Government’s arrogance in how it treats the people of Ontario,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett. “With Hydro One receiving the highest number of complaints for the second year in a row, it is clear Minister Chiarelli has been asleep at the switch when it comes to Hydro One’s operations.”
The 2014-15 report is the final report by the Ombudsman that will highlight the deficiencies of Hydro One, with the government stripping independent oversight of the organization in late November with the sale of the utility.
“This has to be an embarrassment to the government with the provincial utility leading the number of complaints for two years in a row,” Barrett said. “The solution should be to tackle the problem, not to sell the utility and remove oversight of the Ombudsman.”
He raised further concerns about the sale of Hydro One and how deficiencies in the billing system will be addressed with the removal of independent oversight.
“This government can’t be trusted and this just another example of how it can’t manage its responsibilities,” Barrett said. “Hydro One customers pay the price every month and the mismanagement of this file has made life difficult for residents – especially those who must use electric heat – and is discouraging business investment.”
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett
at 519-428-0446 or by e-mail at toby.barrett@pc.ola.org