Toby steamed with 75 per cent hike in electricity bill

For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2010

Simcoe – MPP Toby Barrett is angry about skyrocketing electricity prices. And from the number of calls lighting up the phone lines in Barrett’s office, he’s not the only one furious about his bill.

“There are folks who call the office who break down crying because they simply don’t know where they’ll find the money to pay their electricty bills,” Barrett said. “They’ve gone up 75 per cent on McGuinty’s watch and are projected to rise another 45 per cent over the next five years.”

In the fall of 2002, Progressive Conservative Premier Ernie Eves froze electricity prices at 4.3 cents per kW/h. Dalton McGuinty elminated the price freeze and we’ve seen the cost soar to today’s 7.6 cents per kW/h – a 75 per cent increase.”

“Capping rates at 4.3 cents was easy to understand, people knew how to budget for their bill,” Barrett explained. “Today, you hold your breath and pray for the best as you open your bill because you just don’t know what to expect.

Barrett points out that the cost of energy production today at OPG Nanticoke is around four cents per kW/h.

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629