Saying it's worked in the past on issues, Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky urges the community to lobby Queen's Park hard to bring down the cost of electricity.
Gretzky says it's wholly unacceptable that over 6,000 customers in Windsor had an outstanding balance on their hydro bills at the end of last year. And, it's not just seniors and low-income families that are suffering. She says it's everybody.
"We've had folks who are in the upper-income level, who are just fed up," says Gretzky. "We get large corporations that are saying that they simply can't afford to do business in the province anymore because of the energy costs. We have smaller businesses. And, then you have organizations that are meant to help those that are struggling financially like the Downtown Mission, or Street Help or even the Windsor Youth Centre."
The government has said there are services in place to help customers keep their balances in check, but Gretzky says they're inadequate.
"Those credits are minimal," she says. "Somebody has a hydro bill of $400 or $500, and they're getting a $50 credit. That's really not helping all that much."
She's written the new Energy Minister Glen Thibeault an open letter, but says that won't be enough.
"We've seen just recently when you have a large enough community push back, and you have those that are elected that have the political will that things can happen," she says. "We just had the specialized schools where they reversed course and decided to keep them open. Autism services. We've seen it in our own community with CCAC [Community Care Access Centre] services, thoracic cancer surgery."
Gretzky says she's tired of hearing the cost of hydro is out of the Liberal government's hands, since the Ontario Energy Board which makes the decision whether to increase rates or not is independent. Before 2010, the government didn't charge the HST on the cost of electricity. She estimates removing provincial sales tax would have collectively saved Windsor consumers nearly $90,000.
Another option, she says would be to stop the sale of Hydro One.
"They've already done one traunch, the 15% and said that wouldn't make a difference in costs, and it has," says Gretzky.
So far, Gretzky says she has not heard back from Thibeault.