{"id":34179,"date":"2017-07-07T09:18:50","date_gmt":"2017-07-07T13:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=34179"},"modified":"2017-07-07T09:18:50","modified_gmt":"2017-07-07T13:18:50","slug":"something-say-pending-increases-hydro-one-delivery-charges-theres-public-meeting-muskoka-july-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/something-say-pending-increases-hydro-one-delivery-charges-theres-public-meeting-muskoka-july-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Have something to say about pending increases to Hydro One delivery charges? There’s a public meeting in Muskoka July 13"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ontario Energy Board wants to hear from consumers about Hydro One\u2019s electricity rate application<\/strong><\/p>\n

Community Meeting scheduled for July 13 in Bracebridge; Ontario-wide tele-meeting on July 12 <\/em><\/p>\n

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is holding two more community meetings to give consumers the opportunity to participate in the OEB\u2019s review of Hydro One\u2019s recent application to increase its electricity distribution rates.<\/p>\n

The July 13 meeting, taking place in Bracebridge, is one of nine in-person community meetings the OEB has held since June 15 to enable Hydro One customers to learn more and ask questions about the utility\u2019s distribution rate application.<\/p>\n

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For all customers who were unable to attend the meetings held to date, the OEB is also hosting a province-wide tele-meeting on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Customers can call in toll-free 1-800-806-5484 using the passcode 8940608# or send an email to ConsumerVoice@oeb.ca<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

All Ontario utilities, including Hydro One, must apply to the OEB if they want to change their distribution rates. These are the rates that utilities charge for delivering electricity to homes and businesses \u2013 different from the electricity prices that cover the cost of the electricity that consumers use, which appears on the \u201celectricity\u201d line of the bill.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe OEB helps control costs for all consumers by reviewing and testing the requested rate change through an open, robust and inclusive rate review process,\u201d says Kristi Sebalj, OEB Registrar. \u201cWe work hard to keep rates as low as possible while making sure utilities have what they need to keep the lights on.\u201d<\/p>\n

For every major electricity rate application it receives, the OEB holds one or more community meetings for consumers served by the utility as part of its commitment to engage, empower and protect consumers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis makes it easier for all consumers to learn more about why their utility is asking for a change in rates to cover the costs of serving customers,\u201d Sebalj says. \u201cConsumers can also find out more about how they can have a say in the review process, before, during and after the meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Fair Hydro Act, 2017 <\/em>is expected to reduce electricity bills for Hydro One customers in different ways starting this summer. The amounts requested by Hydro One in its application to the OEB relate to its distribution business and do not reflect any credits or other changes resulting from the Fair Hydro Act<\/em>, 2017. Any amounts approved by the OEB will not impact the distribution line of the bill of most Hydro One customers, after the Fair Hydro Act<\/em> credits and changes are applied.<\/p>\n

The OEB still has an important role to play in ensuring that Hydro One provides an appropriate level of service quality to their customers at a reasonable cost, and that they are doing everything possible to be more efficient and keep improving. Visit the OEB\u2019s website at www.oeb.ca\/newsroom\/2017\/fair-hydro-act-2017<\/a> for an explanation of how the Fair Hydro Act, 2017 <\/em>will affect customers\u2019 bills.<\/p>\n

The OEB Community Meeting in Bracebridge will take place on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at the Bracebridge Sportsplex Auditorium, 110 Clearbrook Trail. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and presentations will begin at 6:30 p.m. This meeting follows eight others that were held in Leamington, Napanee, Rockland, Owen Sound, Ancaster, Stouffville, Dryden and Sudbury.<\/p>\n

Consumers are invited to make brief presentations and participate in the question-and-answer period. Consumers wishing to make a presentation are invited to email registrar@oeb.ca<\/a> or call 1-877-632-2727 (toll-free). <\/strong>Meetings are scheduled to end at 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Since 2009, the OEB has reviewed more than 130 major rate applications and reduced requested rate increases by an average of about 40 per cent. Overall, the OEB has kept the annual growth in average distribution rates close to the rate of inflation during the same period.<\/p>\n

As Ontario\u2019s independent regulator of the energy sector, the OEB makes decisions that serve the public interest. Its goal is to contribute to a sustainable, reliable and efficient energy sector and to help consumers get value from their electricity and natural gas services. This includes:<\/p>\n