Manitoba Hydro seeks 3.95% rate increase for 2015 and 2016

Manitoba Hydro has applied to the Public Utilities Board of Manitoba to increase rates.

The public power utility is eyeing increases of 3.95 per cent in 2015 and 2016, effective April 1 each year.

Hydro president Scott Thomson said the increases are needed to ensure the continued safe, reliable supply of electricity to Manitobans.

"Manitoba Hydro's distribution system is aging and needs to be renewed, and in many cases, expanded. Without needed investment, the system will become increasingly unreliable, outages more frequent and customers will not receive the service they have come to expect from us," Thomson stated in a news release.

Thomson added that despite the proposed increases, Manitobans will still pay among the lowest general electricity rates in North America.