Ontario government changes to electricity bills will result in a net monthly increase of $11 for the average residential customer in the new year.
Effective January 1, 2016, the Debt Retirement Charge will be eliminated, resulting in savings of $5.60 a month.
Elimination of the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit, however, more than offsets that decrease by adding $15.70 to the monthly bill.
Bluewater Power CEO Janice McMichael-Dennis says the typical user will also have to pay an extra dollar per month to fund the new Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP), geared to help low income customers. She says there are guidelines to qualify for support.
"Just as an example, if you have four people living in your household and you are making less than $39,000 total income for everybody, all four, that would qualify you for the approximately $30 bill credit," says McMichael-Dennis.
McMichael-Dennis stresses the changes are province-wide and not specific to Bluewater Power.
For more information about the OESP , visit www.ontarioelectricitysupport.ca.
