Ontario is extending electricity rate relief for most residents by offering off-peak time-of-use pricing until the end of May. However, there is no relief for about 4% of Ontarians who are not offered time-of-use pricing.
Associate Minister of Energy and Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker says residents who currently have no access to broadband internet are the same residents who cannot access smart meter technology.
While most residents are currently paying 10.1 cents a kWh, a number of citizens are not being provided with smart meters from Hydro One. Those residents have to pay 11.9 kWh for the first 1000 kWh, and then 13.9 cents on anything above that. Since most of the affected residents are rural, they often also heat with electricity.
Walker adds it would be very difficult for power providers to offer the same off-peak rate to those customers currently paying on a tiered rating system.