By Chad Ingram

Hydro One has presented a counter-proposal to the Ontario Energy Board as it asks the province’s energy regulator to reconsider a plan to scrap aspecial rate class for seasonal residences.

As previously reportedsince 2015 the OEB has given direction that it intends to eliminate the rate class for cottage properties the plan to re-categorize thoseproperties as either medium-density (R1) or low-density (R2) classesdepending upon location. Bills in the R2 class are higher since theyentail greater delivery fees and Hydro One has said that plan wouldnegatively impact some 54 per cent of its seasonal customers with their bills increasing substantially.

“We submitted a proposal to the OEB about an alternate way to handle this” Imran Merali vice president of customer service for Hydro One told the Times. According to Meraliwhile the OEB plan would see bills for its seasonal rate customersincrease about $1000 a year the proposal Hydro One has submitted tothe OEB would see that increase reduced to approximately $65 per annum.
“We really want to get the message out to our customers that we’readvocating on their behalf” said Merali adding Hydro One is alsohoping customers will get involved

An updated section on theutility’s website allows customers to review Hydro One’s report to theOEB and have frequently-asked questions answered. It can be found at https://www.hydroone.com .