Hydro-Québec rates going up again
CBC News | Posted: March 2, 2017 12:31 PM | Last Updated: March 2, 2017
Public utility had requested 1.6% increase, citing high costs and lower-than-anticipated demand
Quebec's energy board has approved an increase of 0.7 per cent for Hydro-Québec's residential customers and most of its business customers.
The increase will go into effect April 1.
According to Hydro-Québec, the increase means customers will pay about 88 cents more per month for a small home and $1.75 per month month for a medium-sized home.
The public utility had requested a 1.6 per cent increase, citing higher costs of power purchases and lower-than-anticipated demand.
Even with the increase, Hydro-Québec says its rates will remain the lowest in North America — less than half of what people pay in Toronto and a quarter of what they pay in New York.
In 2016, Hydro-Québec's rates also went up by 0.7 per cent — after its request for a 1.7 per cent increase was rejected.