New and simplified Hydro One bills, which highlight savings from the government’s 25-per-cent-rate cut, are giving Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals an unfair edge as an election looms, rivals say. The new bills were unveiled Wednesday following in-depth research into customer preferences, said Hydro One officials, who noted that 35 per cent of customer queries to the utility’s call centres were to have bills explained. The rate cut was passed last March, but was widely criticized by opposition parties because ratepayers will face an extra $25 billion in interest charges over the next 30 years as costs of upgrading the electricity system are spread out over decades. Under the plan, hydro bills will increase no more than the rate of inflation, which is roughly two per cent now, over the next four years. The Wynne government has sold roughly half the shares in Hydro One to raise $9 billion for debt repayment and infrastructure projects, including public transit.

Source: thestar November 30, 2017 23:03 UTC