Antonella Artuso - Toronto Sun
Premier Dalton McGuinty's government is looking at adjusting off-peak electricity prices as hydro ratepayers watch their bills soar.
Mounting evidence indicates that people have not been shifting their power to evenings and weekends to take advantage of lower hydro rates.
McGuinty said the off peak rate may not be low enough to encourage people to begin doing electricity-consuming activities like laundry at different times.
"There should be an appropriate price differential in place that, in fact, rewards people for changing their behaviours," McGuinty said Tuesday.
With the introduction of smart meters, the government also brought in different prices for electricity depending on when it's used.
Ontario ratepayers on time-of-use prices pay 5.3 cents per kWh for weekends and between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.; 8 cents/kWh between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.; and 9.9 cents/kWh between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Conservative MPP Peter Shurman said he's hearing from his own constituents that their bills have risen about 50% due to a number of changes over the past six months - the harmonized sales tax, time-of-use pricing, a green energy fee and a 12% electricity price hike.
"He's finally seeing the light," Shurman said of the premier. "It's simply unaffordable."