Hydro Rates Being Boosted
As part of a ten year plan, the rates will increase 9% in the first year, and 6% in the second year.
The BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) will set increases for the following three years within caps of four per cent, 3.5 per cent and three per cent; and in the final five years of the plan, rates will be set by the BCUC and actions by government and BC Hydro will ensure increases remain low and predictable.
So, in the first five years of this plan, rates will increase by as much as 25.5%.
Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennett says the 9% increase will mean about $8 a month more for the average home owner, a further $20 a month for the small business, but as much as $139 thousand month for large heavy industry. Bennett says there is further work to be done for heavy industry.
Over the term of the 10 year plan, B.C. Hydro will invest $1.6 billion in Power Smart programs under the 10 year plan. In addition, a rate design review process will be launched to examine ways to provide industrial customers with more options to reduce their electricity costs, as recommended by the Industrial Electricity Policy Review Task Force.
In response to another recommendation from the task force, government will initiate a review of the BCUC, through the Core Review process, with the goal of increasing the commission's effectiveness and efficiency so that BC Hydro rates can be set by the commission starting in the third year of the plan.
The 9% increase takes effect April 1st of 2014.
Comments
Why am I suddenly having a tough time sitting!
So….they will have extra money to upgrade the system and we won’t have frequent power outages?? LOL YA RIGHT!!! Two 6-8 hour outages in 2 days is a little tough to handle!!
And yet the city of Prince George will charge a surcharge or fee if one installs any self generation whether it is solar or wind. If you disconnect from the public power distribution system, you will be charged more. That is why we have seen some solar installations come down shortly after commissioning.
Can you say cash grab.
That is insane and asinine. Individuals should be able to choose who they get screwed buy.
So here we have it again. Further increases to people who cannot afford it.
CEO of BC Hydro is the highest paid Civil Servant in BC with at annual wage in the area of $500,000.000 per year. The four top guys at PowerEx get paid in excess of $400,000.00 per year.
BC Hydros,management is a prime example of a monolithic entity gone awry. They haven’t got the expertise to flush a toilet, let alone run a huge entity. If ever a Government entity needed a full scale audit, BC Hydro is the one.
We need to stop these increases. Bill Bennet knows full well, that one of the reasons for the increase is that the Government continues to skim money from Hydro, so these increases are in effect another way for the Government to tax us, same thing for ICBC.
This will never stop unless we start to raise hell, with our elected politicians.
They have to find a way to pay for all their new and renovated buildings throughout the province.
Well as long as Alcan/Rio tinto still gets their great power deal so they make more money selling it back to bc hydro than making aluminium is all that matters
BC.. The taxation nation
Hey I can “afford” to complain, I didn’t vote for this hydro damn of a government, and anyone that did shouldn’t be complaining!!!
Good point Palopu. Not to mention the big fat pension politicians receive on the backs of the tax payer.I often wonder,what will be the breaking point that makes us sheeple finally say that we have had enough of this current system that we live in and change it.
Well said Palopu!
Not long ago, Hydro salaries were published for all of us to see! Salaries from the very top to the very bottom are extremely generous!
It’s time for governments at all levels, as well as Crown Corporations including the likes of BC Hydro and ICBC, to undergo a complete review and rationalization!
Bloody well get your own house in order before you come to us for more money!!
rate increases…
could it be we have to subsidize the americans ..
each time it goes up for us it goes down for them or we get sued and have to pay that too….
Posted by: Hart Guy on November 26 2013 11:38 AM
Well said Palopu!
Not long ago, Hydro salaries were published for all of us to see! Salaries from the very top to the very bottom are extremely generous!
————-
You can go here to see the 2011/2012 salaries for anyone that made over $75,000 a year. Interestingly enough, the search comes back with 4169 Hydro employees over that threshold for that year.
Guess I could include the link!
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/public-sector-salaries/basic.html
To DirtCheap: What kind of system do you imagine that would replace the one we have? I’m not trying to be a wiseguy or take a cheap here, I sincerely want to know what we can do to replace the system we currently have because it sure as hell doesn’t seem to represent what the people actually want. From capitalism to socialism to communism to fachism (sp?), no political system so far has produced results that meet everybody’s needs. What we have is a system that makes a decison on whose needs will be met while we sacrifice the needs of some of the others. Who really thinks this is a good thing?
Over the term of the 10 year plan, B.C. Hydro will invest $1.6 billion in Power Smart programs under the 10 year plan. In addition, a rate design review process will be launched to examine ways to provide industrial customers with more options to reduce their electricity costs, as recommended by the Industrial Electricity Policy Review Task Force.
===========================================
It would be interesting if 250 did a little investigative reporting on how the Power Smart program is currently being run. Are you aware that power smart is purchasing capital assets for Canfor…so they will use less power in their plants?? While at the same time hydro is buying surplus power the mills are producing in the co-gen plants.
I am sorry, but the more I look at this the more it looks like a giant shell game.
Palopu you should compare the pay of Hydro CEO to private sector CEO’s.
Also what do you think of the IPP contracts Hydro was forced into by the fiberals. Hydro being forced to buy very expensive power from these IPP’s to the tune of 52 billion over 30 years. Oh wait that is private power so you will most likely think that is okay. Stupid me for even bringing it up. Just who benefits from these very expensive contracts?
Greenies and early Asian immigrants always bring up the fact how very cheap power site c will affect wildlife but always ignore the harm done by the bird thrashing, bat killing wind generators. Oh wait the early Asian immigrants are developing those wildlife killers so that makes it okay.
Loki you have absolutely no idea on the costs and operation of off grid generation. I suggest you educate yourself before commenting further.
BC Hydro’s chief executive officer Charles Reid said residents are still getting a good deal on their hydro rates.
“The average residential user, their cable bills and phone bills are much, much higher than their electricity bills. If you were in Calgary, instead of paying $80 or $90 a month for electricity, you’d be paying $150 a month for electricity.”
…how the hell does Reid say that with a straight face without bursting into laughter? Alberta has no PST and has significantly cheaper gasoline prices. I’d take that offset any day.
Wow i guess I better shut up because I’m getting such a good deal in BC.
Phhhht!
Maybe BC Hydro should just get out of country customers like California to pat their dam bills. Cut them off i say.
That outstanding dept alone could fund a large capital project.
“Pay their bills”
Actually I believe that I have some idea. I just don’t have complete information.
I suggest you enlighten us on my knowledge deficiencies.
You have slammed on IPP since the phrase was coined. Why is that?
You have slammed me for my opinion. Why is that?
What is your vested interest in inhibiting the development of alternative energy solutions?
If we do not try, we will always get screwed.
I am trying to ask without offending, so please, do not take offense and simply answer my questions so I and others have a better understanding of the situation. There are far too many unanswered questions for this to be a profitable discussion.
We could have saved a Billion plus by not installing so called “SMARTMETERS” and now come the Bill .
I just read that BC has the highest rate in child poverty…..could it be that the dumb clucks have taxed, increased and generally screwed every working abled body and their families by doing these outrageous increase percentages to cover a power source in which they sell to the Americans anyway. No wonder people are sick of BC and have the highest ranking for child poverty, I can’t even afford food…BC -Bring Cash (you won’t have it long)
…and you guys whine about City workers asking for 2% a year…
You are correct PG, British Columbia use to be tied with Manitoba for the highest child poverty rate in Canada, this year, at 18.6%, we again have the sole distinction of having the highest child poverty rate in the country.
Increase our service rates, increase our taxes, bring it on! I don’t care anymore, punish us hard for voting Lib-Con, come on is that all you got? Tax and gouge us harder and deeper⦠we have been abused so long, we have the collective symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome!
Next election we will do this all over again, our abuser will use “fear” to keep us in line, and we will go running back into their arms for another beating!
Thank you Axman for posting the link to the site which has information on the humungous salaries (benefits included?) of some BC public employees!
The money that some of these people pull down (our tax money) is like them winning the lottery each and every year, over and over and over again! When they quit or get fired the super platinum plated packages kick in, of course!
No wonder there is never enough money left over to run whatever department it is, even though more and more billions are put into that pot with the gaping hole in the bottom!
I console myself with the thought that some of the new hydro increases are for updating the existing infrastructure plus some new hydro power generation which is non-polluting, renewable and green!
Site C perhaps?
Way better than burning dirty coal or somewhat less polluting natural gas!
” Posted by: PrinceGeorge on November 26 2013 2:42 PM
Thank you Axman for posting the link to the site which has information on the humungous salaries (benefits included?) of some BC public employees!”
I’m pretty sure that list only includes salaries; it does not include benefits.
True we have to pay the $1 Billion dollar cost for the smart meter program… it was not free after all. We could have paid for a 4-lane highway to PG for that much, but our government choose smart meters to reward well connected insiders.
But the real purpose of this huge rate increase is in all likelihood because they need the rate payers of BC to subsidize the generation required to run the LNG plants that are being proposed. That hydro will not be free and it will use huge amounts that need to come from somewhere.
IMO the LNG plants should be made to be self sustaining with their own generation, of which they could then sell any surplus into the BC grid at the current rates.
If the LNG plants are not self sustaining then they should be forced to pay the incremental cost for the load they require, and it should not be downloaded to the existing rate payers and home owners in the province. We as home owners should not be forced to subsidize the off shore shareholders of the LNG industry so that they can make even more billions off of our domestic resources.
“So, in the first five years of this plan, rates will increase by as much as 25.5%.”
That’s it? Only 25.5% increase over 5 years? Come Lib-Cons, that will force only a few thousand more out on the streets, To really impact on and move that child poverty rate even higher, give us a 50% increase over 5 years. We can take more of a gouging, while corporations enjoy the 2nd lowest tax rate in the world!
We need to hit and punish our poor even harder, while swaddling and suckling corporations to our collective teat.
Someone has to pay for the IPP contracts being handed out at 10 cents to 15 cents per kilowatt.
Even projects 100% paid for by hydro and then a sweetheart deal on power displacement.
You can thank the Liberals once again for sticking it to the taxpayers of BC.
Posted by: People#1 on November 26 2013 3:44 PM
“So, in the first five years of this plan, rates will increase by as much as 25.5%.”
That’s it? Only 25.5% increase over 5 years? Come Lib-Cons, that will force only a few thousand more out on the streets, To really impact on and move that child poverty rate even higher, give us a 50% increase over 5 years. We can take more of a gouging, while corporations enjoy the 2nd lowest tax rate in the world!
We need to hit and punish our poor even harder, while swaddling and suckling corporations to our collective teat.
—————-
Perhaps if the government wasn’t spending inordinate amounts of money on the civil service they would be in a better situation to address the child poverty issue. Take a look at the above database for public sector salaries if you want to see “suckling at our collective teat” in action.
If it wasn’t for those evil corporations turning a profit we’d all be out in the street.
Thanks for your “less than human” response axman. Look around, we ARE out on the street, replaced by temporary foreign workers, the new darlings of the corporate world.
“People have hearts, they have kids, they get jobs, they get sick, they cry, they dance, they live, they love, they die. And that matters. That matters because we don’t run this country for corporations, we run it for PEOPLE” ~ Elizabeth Warren
Guess I’ll have to get the old phone book out and see if there is another hydro company I can take my business to. Grrrr.
Posted by: People#1 on November 26 2013 4:10 PM
Thanks for your “less than human” response axman. Look around, we ARE out on the street, replaced by temporary foreign workers, the new darlings of the corporate world.
———–
You have internet access out in the street? Cool…
Not understanding how pointing out that there are way too many people sucking at the taxpayer’s teat makes me less than human. Nobody has the right to a paycheque but we all do have the right to earn a paycheque.
Like the fellow on the news said. When the taxpayer has to pay more for the power we get from the IPP’s than BC Hydro can sell it for and ridiculous Smart meters, somebody has to pay for it. Thank you for the BS BC Liberals!
What is it going to take to push the taxpayer over the edge in BC? When will they finally grow a spine and say enough is enough and actually hit the streets to prove it?
Well that does it… I’m going to switch to the competition… uh, never mind.
All this BS goes on because the people let it.
The competition = oil lamps, candles and Honda.
“If it wasn’t for those evil corporations turning a profit we’d all be out in the street.”
Way to completely disregard self-employment and small business.
Dragonmaster:
that is the point of my interest in self generation and IPP’s.
If we all do nothing but take what is dished out, there will not be a change.
If many citizens object and take their business to an alternative solution, there will be change.
Don’t forget, tesla wanted to provide free DC electricity to everyone, but we know who won that one.
Go capitalism, at any cost to the common man.
And the idiots who had their necktie in a knot over Dix backdating a memo elected this sack of corruption, payoffs and refusal to hold a legislative session to discuss OUR business, OUR money, our kids’ and grandkids’ future? Good one! They won’t have a bloody future, other than living in debt all their lives.
In light of these increases, FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, I think we need a PAC!
Wow, and I thought Adrian Dix had finally run out of supporters.
It sure is funny how there are some people that think their opinion is so valid that they can attack other people just to make themselves feel better. Last time I checked we still have a right to our own opinion.Don’t think mentioning any names is neccessary to prove my point.
I don’t see that ever happening, Johnny. After all, fully half of the population loves Dix and always has.
“Thank you Axman for posting the link to the site which has information on the humungous salaries (benefits included?) of some BC public employees!”
====================================
Easy folks. Just polish up your résumé and fill your boots:
https://www.bchydro.com/careers/current_opp.html
Do you think you would qualify for any of those jobs? Here are some excerpts from some of the job descriptions:
– Knowledge, skills and abilities are typically acquired through: national diploma of technology from an institute of technology in the chemistry and environment discipline (analytical and/or industrial option) with four (4) years of relevant experience in a commercial or industrial setting; or Bachelorâs degree in analytical or materials chemistry from a nationally recognized university with three (3) years of relevant experience in a commercial or industrial setting; or Masterâs degree in analytical or materials chemistry with one (1) year of relevant experience in a commercial or industrial setting.
– A trade qualification as a Journeyman Power Line Technician/Lineman with an Interprovincial Red Seal Certificate or qualifications to obtain one
– Completed University Bachelorâs Degree of a technical discipline such as Engineering, Finance, Mathematics/Physics, Economics or equivalent.
– Completion of, or current enrolment in a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Designation, MBA or an analytical Masterâs degree is desirable, but not mandatory.
– A minimum 8 years of experience in a relevant environmental field including experience in implementation and data collection in the field research and scientific study, investigative techniques, report preparation and project management.
Pretty run of the mill stuff worth about 40K a year eh?
People#1 What would you say is a fair rate for electricity? I pay 1/1000 of a cent per sq/ft hour. Is that too much?
Oops my mistake! 1/1000 of a cent per sq/ft day!
The real embarrassment is that your typical cable bill is higher than your electric bill.
LOL: “I don’t see that ever happening, Johnny. After all, fully half of the population loves Dix and always has.”
Do they know he’s stepping down?
My monthly cable bill includes internet (basic) and telephone (basic) and TV (basic) and it still adds up to way more than my hydro bill for two months! I rarely ever make any long distance calls, btw.
In other words, I feel that my cable bill is embarrassingly high, especially considering that one third of the TV time consists of repetitive irritating TV commercials.
Loki if you want self generation with the convenience that you have now, costs will start at 15,000 grand and up. Also do not forget your operating and maintenance costs.
IPP power is more expensive that Hydro generated power. Hydro can build and generate power from site c cheaper than buying from IPP’s. Oh by the way Hydro has to build site c to back up IPP power as that power is not firm power. Hydro’s own words.
For those that bitch about top civil servant’s pay, compare the same position with the private sector, wow.
Our rates are about the cheapest in north America if not the world even with the increase. Australia you will be paying double to three times what one pays here.
As for aging infrastructure upgrades, blame that on this and past governments not planning for the future as unusual and using Hydro as a cash machine.
does anyone who has made a comment on this article believe that the ceo read any comments made?
no matter what government is in power we well and truly get shafted.
price of oil is down below 94 dollars,
did we get such a great deal from big oil?
Here is an interesting read on wind power in the UK, the costs and how so called green energy increased power costs.
http://joannenova.com.au/2013/11/there-goes-a-massive-windfarm-4bn-uk-project-kaput-before-it-began/
Come on BC Liberals, whats this garbage? Who voted for you anyway?
Oh ya, those that will benefit financially from the special way you run this province.
Bloody pitiful!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-has-highest-child-poverty-rate-in-canada-report-1.2440909
It doesn’t come any cheaper than hydro-electric. Perhaps tidal power would be cheap after the original infastructure costs.
You assume Johnny and once again, your assumptions are wrong. But hey, dealing in fact is not one of your strong suits.
Point being those, such as you, who focussed on non-issues in the campaign and buried their heads in the sand when faced with 12 years of Liberal corruption that was there for all to se if they so chose, can bear the weight of electing these bums and the financial rape of the province they will carry out over their term.
You can now put your head back where it was.
This is great news first thy put new smart meter in then my bill went up by 16% . Thy wear asking for 50% increase before smart meters wear installed but the utilityâs commission said no so next thing we see is smart meters think thy got it now thy will add peak usage to bill and thy donât have to go to the utilityâs for that increase on peak usage so thy get there cake and eat it too
NMG:”Pretty run of the mill stuff worth about 40K a year eh?”
Let’s try to stick with the issue of hundreds of public employees making 300k to 400k annually, year after year when there are children living in poverty! Perhaps those who make more money than 10 or 20 *ordinary* workers combined (!) could work for a more modest salary and help address child poverty?
Heaven forbid!
During the ten years of BC NDP rule child poverty was not a problem, right?
“Pretty run of the mill stuff worth about 40K a year eh?”
There’s nothing wrong in paying people what they’re worth; the issues arise when you have an awful lot of people who are paid a lot more then they are worth.
So a person making 400,000k pays 165,000k in taxes. 10 people making 40,000 pay a combined 62,000 in tax.
Dragonmaster…. Your own article says the NDP are no better, so perhaps it isn’t all the government.
I believe the manager of BC Hydro needs to retire and all present and prior managers need to be charged with incompetence. I believe you sat back and neglected your job and reward yourselves with huge bonuses.
How can I say that?
Easyâ¦â¦
My evidenceâ¦.
Any person with an IQ over 8, who is starting or running a business knowsâ¦
1)It costs money to start up, and equipment is probably the biggest cost.
2)There are day-to-day costs in running that businessâ¦.
3)There are general maintenance costs to all equipment.
4)In time there are major overhaul costs
5)Eventually there are replacement costs.
It appears from your statements of why theses rate increases are happening that none of you took any of this into consideration while you were supposedly operating BC Hydro.
Instead you patted yourselves on the back and gave yourselves huge bonuses, for what I am not sureâ¦..not getting caught in your neglect of your job?
I am not sure if your actions, or lack of them is criminal but I doubt they are very far from it.
So thank you for robbing my pocket because of your misdoings.
I forgot #6
if you plan to get bigger you also need to budget for it…..
I consume waaaay too much power and I know it. I guess my bill is going up or I will have to turn things off. Woe is me!
Sad for the people that can’t afford it as mister landlord will pass on the extra to his tenants.
But wait a sec 9% more of the current rate of .069 cent/kWh is a whopping .00621 more! Not even a freaking cent. So the new rate will be wait for it! .07521 cents a kWh!
The sky is falling the sky is falling!
NoWay, it isn’t the amount, it is the lame reasons and the fact it is happening at all….
“There’s nothing wrong in paying people what they’re worth; the issues arise when you have an awful lot of people who are paid a lot more then they are worth”
==================================
Okay, but what happens when you need an awful lot of people to do the necessary work and the skills those people bring to the table demand more than 75K per year?
Would it not stand to reason that looking at an arbitrary cutoff of $75K on a list and making the assumption that these people are paid more than they are worth, is potentially flawed?
The link I posted earlier of BC Hydro career opportunities has 10 current listings. Of those 10, only 1 of them doesn’t require some type of advanced education, specialization or certification. In essence, 90% of the current job openings are for highly skilled workers likely demanding a salary that would put them on that earlier mentioned list.
Maybe part of the problem is that people don’t really understand how many skilled positions are actually required for an employer like BC Hydro?
Even with the increase we will have one of the cheapest hydro rates in Canada. Canada has one of the cheapest hydro rates in the world! The country that is less is Mexico. Sure it’s going up everyone predicted it. But the increase is peanuts compared to the increases in everything else we buy.
Perhaps cougs78 and NoWay should revisit the opinion 250 “Site C” news article discussion on November 12. In doing so cougs78 wouldn’t be asking me what a fair rate for hyrdo would be based on sq./ft/per hour or sq./ft/day. The actual measurement unit is per/kW/hr, of course coug78 should have known that; given her participation in that November 12th discussion on hydro rates.
NoWay, your calculations are not even close based on 2000kWs the cost per kWhr would be 9.882 cents. A 25.5% increase means an increase of 2.52 cents per kWhr. That translates into a huge increase in our monthly hydro bills, especially in the winter months.
http://www.hydro.mb.ca/regulatory_affairs/energy_rates/electricity/utility_rate_comp.shtml#residential_2000
Thanks for the link gus.
Posted by: NMG on November 26 2013 6:40 PM
“There’s nothing wrong in paying people what they’re worth; the issues arise when you have an awful lot of people who are paid a lot more then they are worth”
==================================
Okay, but what happens when you need an awful lot of people to do the necessary work and the skills those people bring to the table demand more than 75K per year?
Would it not stand to reason that looking at an arbitrary cutoff of $75K on a list and making the assumption that these people are paid more than they are worth, is potentially flawed?
The link I posted earlier of BC Hydro career opportunities has 10 current listings. Of those 10, only 1 of them doesn’t require some type of advanced education, specialization or certification. In essence, 90% of the current job openings are for highly skilled workers likely demanding a salary that would put them on that earlier mentioned list.
Maybe part of the problem is that people don’t really understand how many skilled positions are actually required for an employer like BC Hydro?
——————–
I’m actually agreeing with you here; just because someone is well paid doesn’t mean they don’t deserve their remuneration; whether they be management or otherwise. However, there are a lot of people in that database who are just coasting along and I’d like to see it stop.
“I forgot #6
if you plan to get bigger you also need to budget for it…..”
You also forgot #7
Secure the required funds to implement plans.
That is what this rate increase will help with. Was on the news tonight that Hydro spends 2 billion a year on maintenance and upgrades to the generation and transmission systems. I like the idea of paying as the work gets done rather than borrowing and pay over time plus interest.
Like other posters our hydro bill is the lower than TV, gas or phones and feel that we are getting a decent deal. Over the years have got everyone in the house into the habit of turning off the lights when they leave a room, try for max loads of laundry, changed to compact florescent and LED as price drops. The increase will hardly be noticed in our house:)
Another option is to get a yurt and a few goats and move out in the bush off the grid.
One Democrat-who has their head buried somewhere? In the last election Christy actually increased the number of seats. Better luck in 2020 as it will be back to back for Clark in 16!
i never thought of myself as a business owner ewitt, but my IQ is still over 8, so I got most of them…lol
whats wrong with getting a raise to cover the insane costs bestowed upon us by our true spokeswoman and her party keep voting liberal sheeple pretty soon you cant afford to turn the lights on and with all the fracking going on pretty soon you wont be able to drink the water. by the end of this term they should pretty much have things phucked up and close to 100 billion in debt. MARK MY WORDS.
People#1 You can chose to believe what ever you wish. I don’t sweat a $.50/day increase in hydro rates. I’ve made changes that already save more than that. You might want to spent less time on these boards if you can’t afford hydro.
Where is the water problem?
You just don’t get it do you cougs78!? I am not posting and commenting for myself, this is about 18.6% of the kids living in in poverty in BC going without less food or clothing because of these hydro increases.
Here, these are the people who can’t afford any more hydro increases, read their stories, and stop thinking only of yourself!
http://www.stopsmartmetersbc.ca/html/?page_id=3157
Scroll down and read the increase in hydro made elderly woman cry, try and read it with some empathy knowing that many people living in this province are just barely getting by!
I get it, no big deal for me, so no big deal for anyone else? Wow…
An early april fools day joke???
Holey frack People#1 pull out your Hydro bill and look at it! 2000kWh a month??? What the heck are you growing?
Like I said in a previous post I consume waaaay too much power and my monthly average is 1200 kWh’s. That’s from my hydro bill not some ridiculous 2000kWh per month insane example.
If you looked at your hydro bill you would know that the rate is 6.9 cents/kWh for step 1. If you are a power hog like me step 2 kicks in after 1354kWh. At that point the rate jumps up to 10.3 cents/kWh. So my average rate for two months is 8.4 cents / kWh. Which is still dirt cheap.
How do I know I’m a power hog? I look after three rental units that are rented by families that do lots of laundry and have power hungry computers! The average kWh consumption per month for those three units is 1056 kWh total. That is only 352 kWh each unit per month.
So the people that consume the most will pay the most me included. We still have one of the cheapest hydro rate in the world.
Time to buy a cloths line I guess!
We shouild address the real reasons for child poverty instead of blaming it on hydro increases. That is just one of the many syptoms. Have a good night.
One: “But hey, dealing in fact is not one of your strong suits.”
Don’t you mean, dealing in your skewed view of reality is certainly not one of my strong suits? Don’t worry though, you’re not the only one who can’t handle when someone else has a different point of view than yours.
Anyway, as Palopu said, we should be raising hell over this! We should also be raising hell to the phone company, the cable company, the gas/oil companies, retail stores, grocery stores, and anyone who has the temerity to (gasp) raise prices! Who’s with me?
Everyone needs to make a living JohnnyB! Shut up and pay up! ;)
Yes of course you are correct that hydro increases are not the sole contributor to child poverty, but no one can deny it is one of the essential cost “stressors” that contribute to poverty.
Here, you look hungry, have a slice of pie cougs78.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slK3jToC04Y
Call mortgage payments rent if you want to, they are about the same!
How many millions to pay for all those smart meters?
Now the consumer has to pay the bill to replace perfectly working meters with new ones that are less reliable and have a shorter life-span.
A shout out to LOLocaust; here is what I think of small business owners. Read the subtitles on this short 3 minute video, the man at the beginning operates his own “family” business.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s22HX18wDY
People first!
The linked article is over 2 years old. Speaks about fast growth rate of staff and need to cut jobs by 1,000 ….
[url]
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/800-million-in-cuts-to-bc-hydro-urged/article590631%5B/url%5D
“For BC Hydro workers, it means major job losses and uncertainty. The corporation has 6,000 full-time positions, and the review says that could be cut to 4,800.”
http://www.bchydro.com/about/accountability_reports/2011_gri/f2011_social/f2011_social_LA1.html
How many millions to pay for all those smart meters?
try that with a “B” as in Billion
And to think just last summer when Bennett was on BC Almanac he was quoted as saying that 26% was a misquote from a reporter who let it be known what BC Hydros’ plans were for our increase. Bennett said that was just a figure that was being thrown around and was quickly rejected and it would likely be more like a 4 or 5% increase. Now it is magically 28%. Now we know when 26% was rejected it WASN’T because it was too much, but rather too little. Our plans are to be off grid within 2 years so Hydro can do as they please as far as I am concerned. And to those who think the ONLY was to go off grid is spending 1000s of dollars, I say do a little research.
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