{"id":7989,"date":"2016-07-15T11:58:12","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T18:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=7989"},"modified":"2016-07-25T11:58:45","modified_gmt":"2016-07-25T18:58:45","slug":"energy-minister-in-the-dark-over-number-of-ontarians-struggling-with-hydro-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=7989","title":{"rendered":"Energy minister in the dark over number of Ontarians struggling with hydro bills"},"content":{"rendered":"
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July 14, 2016\u00a04:08 pm \u00a0Updated:\u00a0July 15, 2016\u00a08:42 am<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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By Brian Hill Global News<\/div>\n
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WATCH: Ontario Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault agreed to speak with Global News, but he doesn’t think the situation in rural Ontario is a crisis. Shirlee Engel reports.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ontario\u2019s energy minister, Glenn Thibeault, has no idea how many people in Ontario are behind on their electricity bills. The Ontario Energy Board, responsible for setting hydro rates in the province, has no idea either.<\/p>\n

In an exclusive interview with Global News, Thibeault admitted he\u2019s not even sure if his ministry collects such data.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI believe some of them are tracked,\u201d said Thibault, referring to a number of programs meant to assist Ontarians struggling with their hydro bills. However, when pressed to provide information on the exact number of people who receive disconnection notices each year, neither the minister, his office, nor the OEB could reveal any further details. The OEB also confirmed it does not consider the number of actual disconnections when assessing rate increases.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s obviously something I\u2019m going to be looking into,\u201d said Thibeault. \u201cI want to ensure that we make this system as affordable as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0Rural Ontarians left in the dark as electricity bills skyrocket<\/a><\/p>\n

Over the past ten years, hydro rates in Ontario have skyrocketed. On average, the price consumers pay for electricity has more than doubled. For rural customers, the majority of which are served by Hydro One, steep delivery chargers and distribution fees have made these increases even more significant \u2013 with some households paying in excess of $1,000 a month for hydro.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I\u2019m still not using the word crisis,\u201d said Thibeault. \u201cI know it\u2019s important. For one family if it\u2019s a hundred bucks out of their own pocket that\u2019s a crisis for them and I get that.\u201d<\/p>\n

EXTENDED: Ontario Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault speaks with Global National\u2019s Shirlee Engel after Global News received scores of emails from people coping with sky-high power bills in rural Ontario.
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Number of disconnections<\/h3>\n

According to the OEB, nearly 60,000 residential customers were disconnected from their hydro services in Ontario for non-payment last year \u2013 9,772 of which were Hydro One customers. The OEB claims utility providers reconnect 99 per cent of households within two business days of disconnection. However, closer analysis of the data provided by the OEB shows that for Hydro One, this figure is significantly lower.<\/p>\n

Of the nearly 10,000 disconnections performed by Hydro One last year, only 7,269 were reconnected, or roughly 75 per cent.<\/p>\n

Hydro rates a \u201cnightmare\u201d for rural residents<\/h3>\n

Although Thibeault is not yet ready to call high hydro rates in Ontario a crisis, many families across the province are already struggling with decisions such as whether or not to pay hydro bills or put food on the table.<\/p>\n

Jason Ladouceur, who three years ago purchased his dream home just outside of Parry Sound, Ont, says high hydro rates are destroying his family.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just disrupted our lives. Everything\u2019s all about money now,\u201d said Ladouceur. \u201cAbout what we can and cannot afford.\u201d<\/p>\n

WATCH: Eric Sorensen has the story of what one family struggling to bring their bill down.
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Ladouceur says his hydro bills average anywhere between $600 and $800 a month. He and his wife no longer have cell phones. They disconnected their cable a little more than a year ago, and can no longer afford luxuries like eating out or traveling up north to visit friends and family in Sault Ste. Marie.<\/p>\n

\u201dI\u2019ve managed to keep the internet for some form of communication for when we\u2019re at home,\u201d said Ladouceur. \u201cBut after we moved in we started getting our hydro bills and they just became overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0Sky-high hydro rates an \u2018absolute crisis\u2019 for rural Ontario<\/a><\/p>\n

Ladouceur says the constant stress and struggle to pay bills has taken a huge toll on his relationship. Despite having moved from the main part of their home into the tiny basement downstairs in order to conserve electricity, Ladouceur says he and his wife are essentially on hiatus.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest fear was my wife,\u201d said Ladouceur, wiping tears from his eyes. \u201cAnd what she would say about it. And I think the most amazing thing she said to me last fall when this was happening was, \u2018Honey, don\u2019t worry about it. We have a woodstove now. At least we\u2019ll be warm.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Fearing disconnection, Ladouceur installed a woodstove last fall to ensure his family would at least have heat once cold temperatures arrive. And while they have not yet been disconnected \u2013 thanks largely to having drained nearly $10,000 from their son\u2019s education fund to cover their electricity costs \u2013 Ladouceur fears it won\u2019t be long before Hydro One is at their doorstep ready to cut them off.<\/p>\n

\u201cUpset, frustrated and scared,\u201d said Ladouceur, describing how his hydro bills make him feel. \u201cWe\u2019re just constantly paranoid about our electricity bill and power being shut off, and the constant threat from them \u2013 from Hydro One.\u201d<\/p>\n

How much of a struggle is it for you to keep a roof over your family\u2019s head because of the high cost of basic necessities and utilities? Are you having to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table? Global News would like to hear your stories. Contact us using the form below.<\/p>\n

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