Rebate should offset higher hydro fees in several Simcoe County communities

simcoe.com
Jan. 9, 2017
By Amanda Persico

You can expect a little more money in one pocket and a little less in the other.

Effective Jan. 1, the province instituted an 8-per-cent rebate equivalent to the HST on your electricity bill.

Meanwhile, an increase in PowerStream’s distribution rates took effect the same day, affecting homeowners in several Simcoe County communities including Alliston, Barrie, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Penetanguishene, Thornton and Collingwood. The changes also affect PowerStream customers in Aurora, Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan.

The 8-per-cent reduction amounts to about $10.45 a month for the average homeowner, which is offset by the approximate 2.9-per-cent increase in distribution rates.

The provincial rebate together with the increased distribution rate amounts to about $6.24 in monthly savings for the average homeowner.

A small-business owner can expect to save about $18.88 a month.

The distribution rates were approved by the Ontario Energy Board as a cost recovery program.

“PowerStream has made a substantial investment in equipment replacements and improvements to the distribution system since 2013,” said PowerStream COO Mark Henderson. “The increase in distribution rates covers those costs as well as those additional improvements planned in 2017.”

Part of those costs dating back to 2013 include rebuilding and repairing damage from the ice storm, such as establishing underground connections for homes that were previously connected outside

PowerStream is also building a new multi-million-dollar transformer station in Vaughan.