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Hydro asking PUB for rate increases

By: Staff Writer

Friday, Jun. 15, 2012 at 10:49 AM | Comments: 3

JEFF DE BOOY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

Hydro is heading into a multi-year plan to build a new transmission line and new generating stations.

Manitoba Hydro wants the Public Utilities Board to approve a 2.5 per cent electricity rate increase effective Sept. 1.

If approved, the electricity bill for a typical residential customer using an average of 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month will increase by $1.80 per month.

The Crown corporation also wants the public regulator to increase rates by a further 3.5 per cent effective April 1, 2013.

Hydro got approval from the PUB three months ago for a two per cent hike to all customers effective April 1. Hydro had wanted a 3.5 per cent increase.

Without the additional money, Hydro said it would see a net loss of $51 million in the next fiscal year and $58 million in 2013-14.

The proposed rate increases come as Hydro heads into a multi-year plan to build the controversial Bipole III transmission line and two new northern generating stations to supply more power to Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Scott Thomson, Hydro's president and CEO, said in a statement the publicly-owned utility also needs increased revenue to upgrade aging generation and transmission systems.

"Compounding the effects of higher maintenance costs are the financial impacts of lower revenues due to economic conditions and lower prices for competing energy sources in export markets," Thomson said.

Thomson also said even with the proposed rate increases, Manitobans will continue to pay one of the lowest electricity rates in North America.

He said Saskatchewan and Ontario pay rates that are more than 50 per cent higher than in Manitoba while consumers in North Dakota and Minnesota pay rates between 30 per cent to 40 per cent higher.

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Posted by:turtles back

June 18, 2012 at 9:19 AM

Hydro raised it rates in April 2012, now in Sept and in April 2013. This all for the Bipole III. This project is going ahead when Manitoban don't want it to. Selinger and his NDP gov't are pushing this.

The new Budget of 187 million increase, when Selinger said no increase in taxes. He is a liar. We need to vote the NDP out of gov't in the next election!!

Posted by:JOHN FEFCHAK

June 18, 2012 at 6:34 AM

HEY! Get your hand out of my pocket, for I need a raise TOO!. And every time ‘they' get a raise, my blood pressure also raises. I know ‘they' have expenses, but I am on a fixed income and have expenses also.You know, like buying food, insurance, upkeep on my residence and paying for the gas that I use, and of course, taxes. Just tell me who I can go to, to get an increase to offset my income revenue difference. For a monthly consumer of 1000 KWH's, The two raises (if approved) will be in the neighbourhood of $55.00 a year. President and CEO, Scott Thomson says "Manitobans will continue to pay one of the lowest electricity rates in North America" Is that supposed to make me, and others, feel a whole lot better? It’s the continual little things that keep adding up and suddenly (when totalled) they aren’t so little any more.

Posted by:JOHN FEFCHAK

June 18, 2012 at 6:29 AM

HEY! Get your hand out of my pocket, for I need a raise TOO!.

And every time ‘they' get a raise, my blood pressure also raises.
I know ‘they' have expenses, but I am on a fixed income and have expenses also.You know, like buying food,
insurance, upkeep on my residence and paying for the gas that I use, and of course, taxes!
Just tell me who I can go to, to get an increase to offset my income revenue difference.

For a monthly consumer of 1000 KWH, The two raises (if approved) will be in the neighbourhood of $55.00 a year.

President and CEO, Scott Thomson says "Manitobans will continue to pay one of the lowest electricity rates in North America" Is that supposed to make me feel a whole lot better?.

It’s the continual little things that keep adding up and suddenly (when totalled) they aren’t little any more.

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