Hampton warns of higher hydro rates to come

NDP Leader Howard Hampton is sounding the alarm about another Dalton McGuinty hydro rate hike.
Today, McGuinty warned Ontarians to brace for higher electricity rates this spring – that despite an election promise to freeze hydro rates at 4.3 cents through 2006. It will be the premier’s third hydro rate hike.
“Dalton McGuinty’s hydro rate hike is another Liberal broken promise. It will make life more expensive and more difficult for working families struggling to pay the bills. And it will drive away more good-paying jobs for people,” Hampton said.
Hydro rates are up substantially from October 2003, when McGuinty came to office. Now, after two McGuinty rate hikes, people are paying 5 cents for the first 750 kilowatt-hours of monthly consumption (up by 16.3 per cent) and 5.8 cents for consumption beyond 750 kilowatt-hours (up by 34.9 per cent).
The McGuinty government’s plan to waste $40 billion on expensive, dirty, dangerous and unreliable nuclear plants will make things worse.
“More expensive unreliable nuclear power without even trying energy conservation and efficiency will drive hydro rates through the roof,” Hampton said.
“An over-reliance on nuclear power will make life more expensive for people, chase away industry and kill more jobs – like the 100,000 manufacturing jobs Ontario has lost in the last year because of the premier’s hydro rate hikes,” the NDP Leader said.
Hampton vowed to continue his fight for affordable, reliable public power.