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First published March 31, 2015 at 4:51 \u00a0\u00a0Updated: March 31, 2015 at 6:59<\/span> More than 93 000 people have to answer the call of Montreal invites customers to Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec to stop using electricity for an hour Wednesday to denounce the constant rate increases.<\/p>\n “It’s amazing, this show of solidarity, I was not expecting it at all. It shows that in a world where we talk all the time of individualism, we are able to stick together, to stand together when we propose an idea that connects people, “says with a smile in his voice, janique Delorme, the founder of the movement.<\/p>\n This initiative came to him a simple discussion among friends recounting their ras-le-bol successive increases of the corporation.<\/p>\n “They rebelled because prices increase on April 1 and a friend simply said we should all close our” breakers “for an hour. I thought it was a great idea, “she recounts.<\/p>\n Ms. Delorme has decided to create a Facebook event “THE GRAND Qc HYDRO BLACKOUT<\/strong><\/span><\/a>“<\/span> on 18 March to invite as many people as possible to participate in this symbolic movement.<\/p>\n More than a million people have been invited to participate in the event Janique Delorme via social networks.<\/p>\n Candlelight<\/p>\n People are invited to “put the breakers to OFF” and light the candles between 19 am and 20 am Wednesday.<\/p>\n “And who knows … maybe at 1 January 2016 Hydro will be responsible for a minibaby boom in Quebec rather than the impoverishment of the population!” Reads the Facebook page of the event.<\/p>\n “People are sometimes afraid to go to events, especially with what we see in the media with demonstrators and police injured. This time they do not even have to leave home. It’s easy to do and accessible to everyone, “she says.<\/p>\n Record profits<\/p>\n Electricity rates for residential customers will increase by 2.9%, or about $ 44 for a family residence, as of April 1, although the corporation has announced record profits of $ 3.38 billion in 2014.<\/p>\n “Since 2004, we have successive increases without being able to do anything. The citizen is held hostage because of the losses suffered by the wind when we do not consume even wind power, “says one who is self-employed in the field of design.<\/p>\n http:\/\/tvanouvelles.ca\/lcn\/infos\/national\/archives\/2015\/03\/20150331-045124.html<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ——————————————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n By\u00a0Amanda Kelly<\/a>\u00a0Web Producer \u00a0Global News \u00a0\u00a0March 24, 2015\u00a011:00 am<\/p>\n MONTREAL \u2014 A unique social media call to action against Hydro-Quebec rate hikes is planned for the first day of April \u2014 and it involves shutting off the power.<\/p>\n A\u00a0Facebook event<\/a>\u00a0is inviting Quebecers to stop consuming electricity for one hour\u00a0to\u00a0protest against a\u00a0proposed\u00a0hike in their electricity bills. There are already over 47,000 people attending.<\/p>\n Last month, Hydro-Quebec announced it would increase its rates by 2.9 per cent, starting April 1.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are invited to a simple citizen\u2019s-action against the continuous price increases of Hydro-Quebec,\u201d the\u00a0event page\u00a0reads<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cRather than \u2018flash your lights,\u2019 light some candles and set all your \u2018breakers\u2019 to OFF just for an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd who knows \u2026 maybe on 1 January 2016, Hydro will be responsible for a mini baby boom in Quebec instead of the impoverishment of its population!\u201d<\/p>\n The action\u00a0is set to take place across the province from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0Hydro-Quebec\u2019s 2014 profit surges 15% to $3.38 billion due to cold weather<\/a><\/p>\n A\u00a0Change.org online petition<\/a>\u00a0against Hydro-Quebec\u2019s\u00a0proposed rate hikes has also been circulating on social media and has garnered\u00a0over\u00a036,600 signatures.<\/p>\n Hydro-Quebec is a\u00a0public utility entirely owned by the government of Quebec. In 2014, the company\u00a0said it paid a record dividend<\/a>\u00a0of $2.5 billion to Quebec, its sole shareholder.<\/p>\n
\nBy Marie-\u00c8ve \u200b\u200bDumont | QMI Agency<\/p>\nNo power hour: Blackout planned to protest Hydro-Quebec rate hikes<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n