With some rumours of new increases in hydro rates in Bulrington, we are happy to have the explaination from our Chapter supporter Karen Cormier, at the Ontrio Energy Board.

Greg,

If there is any concerns about hydro rates, there was the government’s recent announcement regarding Time of Use pricing, which is not actually in effect for most customers yet. Time of use pricing is what makes “smart meters” smart. So, the first step in getting on to time of use prices would be to have a time of use meter installed. The second step, would be for the utility to have their time of use pricing structure in place.

As Burlington Hydro mentioned at your Halton Chapter meeting in April, they are only beginning to install smart meters. It will take some time for them to get their customers on time of use rates. When they are ready to do that, I am sure the utility will provide information to their customers about how time of use pricing will work.

Currently, the rates are 5.7 cents a kilowatt hour for the first 600 kilowatt hours of electricity used each month, and 6.6 cents a kilowatt hour for additional electricity.

With time of use pricing, there are three pricing periods: peak, mid-peak and off-peak. Pricing is as follows:

• Peak price: 9.1 cents a kilowatt hour during the peak period, which is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. • Mid peak: 7.6 cents a kilowatt hour from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9. p.m. on weekdays • Off peak: 4.2 cents a kilowatt hour between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays, and at all times on weekends and holidays.

So, when time of use rates do take effect in Burlington, electricity prices will be cheaper on weekends and other off-peak times, a little higher during mid-peak, and higher during peak times which only occurs Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please let me know if you have any other questions on this.

Regards,

Karen Cormier Senior Advisor Stakeholder Relations Communications & Consumer Relations Ontario Energy Board 2300 Yonge Street, 27th Floor Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4 Phone: 416-440-7657 Toll Free: 1-888-632-6273 x657 Fax: 416-440-7656