Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker will speak before an Ontario Energy Board (OEB) hearing in Owen Sound tomorrow evening to urge them to reject an application for an unfair and unaffordable rate hike at Hydro One.

The hearing will be held at Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Concerned ratepayers can register online here to speak at the hearing.

Walker said his constituents are beyond frustrated by rising electricity costs and he will continue to fight on their behalf for affordability. "They should not be putting in massive hydro hikes after giving their CEO a nearly $4 million raise," Walker said. "My constituents are already struggling to put food on the table and local businesses can't afford even higher electricity bills."

Hydro One recently filed an application with the energy board (OEB) to hike distribution rates, resulting in the average family paying another $141 annually. Walker's party Leader Patrick Brown recently wrote a letter to Premier Wynne, urging her not to allow the increase.

"This hydro rate increase, which begins January 1, 2018, is extremely unfair and unaffordable," Brown wrote in his letter to Premier Wynne. "I am urging you to immediately reject this application, and all subsequent applications, until executive compensation is reined in at Hydro One and the government has stopped signing expensive, new, unneeded power contracts."

Walker said his presentation to the OEB tomorrow will be about the need for hydro affordability for his constituents in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound.

source: Bill Waker, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound