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Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault is spending the day in Sault Ste. Marie as he looks to answer concerns regarding rising electricity rates that has become a hot button item for the Wynne Liberals.  Thibeault says the government has heard the concerns and they are acting on them pointing to six specific measures including some that apply directly to northerners.  The programs include the Northern Ontario Tax Credit and the Low Income Energy Assistance Program that provides up to $600 for people in arrears when it comes to hydro bills.  Thibeault says these measures aren’t in reaction to a by-election loss as some suggest…

 

Thibeault says they have had to invest significantly in addressing what was an unreliable system with rolling brown outs on a regular basis to a reliable clean system.  His visit to the Sault was also to include a round table discussion late this morning with community leaders.

Two well publisized measures include removing the provincial portion of the HST from hydro bills and cancelling plans to sign contracts for one thousand megawatts from renewable energy sources for a savings of up to 3.8-billion dollars.  Cap-and-trade will add about five dollars a month to residential natural gas bills when the program starts in the new year but there will be no impact to electricity rates.  He says the decision to sell off a majority of Hydro One to private partners will make it more accountable…

 

Thibeault couldn’t say whether there would be an increase in electricity rates with the sell off of a majority of Hydro One.