Despite Liberal claims to the contrary, NDP sticking to guns that Hydro rates will jump

Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault says it’s not in the cards, but the NDP continue to insist we face a huge increase in hydro rates.   The NDP say transmission rates will jump after Hydro One asked the Ontario Energy Board to approve a transmission rate increase.  Peter Tabuns, the party’s energy critic, says the energy board gave the utility nearly everything it asked for.  Tabuns says that means we remain on track for a huge jump in transmission rates next year.  Thibeault acknowledges rates will rise over the next several years, but only by the rate of inflation.   Meanwhile, the New Democrats also point out that last year Hydro One’s CEO collected a salary six times greater than the previous head of the utility.  The energy board has said executive pay is one reason behind higher rates.  The NDP say the Premier promised lower hydro bills once Hydro One was privatized but add obviously that’s not happening.  In a release, Tabuns says the Premier’s “hand-picked privatization guru” said private sector discipline would drive down costs and rates for consumers.  Tabuns says it appears that private sector discipline means a CEO salary that’s six times higher compared to the previous Chief Executive Officer.  Tabuns wants the Premier to address the outrageous costs being added to the system.