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Hydro prices to surge

Elk Valley businesses brace for 3 per cent Hydro rate increase.
10957054_web1_AleathaElectricity

Elk Valley businesses and homeowners are feeling the pinch as they brace for another rise in electricity prices.

Monthly power bills will surge by three per cent from April 1 after B.C.’s independent energy regulator denied the government’s request to freeze B.C. Hydro rates.

B.C. Utilities Commission stated there was “insufficient regulatory justification” to warrant lower rate increases and raised concerns about Hydro’s ability to cover the $140-million cost of the rate freeze.

The decision will add on average $2 to a customer’s monthly bill or $23 extra a year.

Fernie business owner and mother-of-two, Aleatha Hozjan, is disappointed but not surprised by the increase.

The Fernie Fireplace and Appliances co-owner has watched her energy costs soar over the past year, with the family’s December bill jumping from $480 to $665 between 2016-17.

“I kinda get sick when I look at my bill because I’m like ‘wow, $500 a month on electricity, that’s getting to be excessive’,” she said.

“It’s almost a mortgage repayment paying my Hydro bill each month.

“Working in a store where we have extra lighting to showcase what we have and, of course, with fireplaces we have fireplaces lit and heated, so it adds to my cost of business significantly.”

To reduce their energy costs, the Hozjans use a wood-burning fireplace and recently spent thousands of dollars installing LED lighting throughout their home.

“Another thing I’ve done in my home is I’ve set an ‘all off’ switch,” said Hozjan.

“When you’re rushing out the door to take your kids to school, you always forget a light… and often we’re too lazy or too late to run back in.

“Every day, every light in my home shuts off automatically at 8.30 a.m. to ensure that we’re not wasting electricity throughout the day.”

Hozjan said there had been huge advances in home appliance technology, which made them more energy efficient and less expensive to run.

“With the high efficiency washers and dryers, they’ve reduced the water usage by 60-70 per cent… so that is a direct cost saving,” she said.

“Most of our refrigerators have a standard vacation mode, so if you’re not in town, you click it and everything cools down or warms to a point where your Hydro shouldn’t be pulling anything.”

MLA for Kootenay East Tom Shypitka labelled the National Democratic Party’s promise to freeze Hydro rates “irresponsible”.

“Neither the government or the utility corporation were able to provide details as to how the $140 million revenue loss to B.C. Hydro would be made up,” he said.

Shypitka, who is also the Official Opposition Critic for Energy and Mines, said a number of initiatives had been set up to assist people in the East Kootenays and more help was on the way.

“The NDP announced they would be launching a program for a $600 grant for those in extenuating circumstances this May,” he said.

“I was pleased to see they are moving forward with this as work began on this program under the previous B.C. Liberal Government,” he said.

B.C .Hydro also offers payment plans, while the Energy Conservation Assistance Program provides free energy assessments and energy-saving products to eligible homes.

For more information on ways to reduce your Hydro bills, visit Bchydro.com/powersmart.html.