B.C. Hydro rate increases opposed

Coalition to press for relief for low-income customers

A coalition of seniors’ groups and anti-poverty advocates is turning up the heat on B.C. Hydro over rising electricity rates.

The groups, led by the B.C. Public Interest Advocacy Centre, will appear before the B.C. Utilities Commission to seek relief for low-income customers — including seniors on fixed incomes and people on income or disability assistance.

Sarah Khan, a staff lawyer, said the advocacy centre has experienced an increase in calls from people struggling to deal with high electricity costs.

“They’re just saying that the rates go up, they’re on a fixed income and where are they supposed to get the extra money from?” she said.

Hydro rates increased four per cent on April 1 and are set to rise 28 per cent from 2014 to 2019.

The coalition wants a discounted rate for the poor and a crisis- intervention fund to assist those in arrears and facing disconnection.

Khan said the number of disconnections has “skyrocketed” to more than 30,000 customers a year compared with just 6,000 a few years ago.

“We’re looking at this huge spike in disconnections and all those customers have to pay reconnection fees, which is just crazy for a low-income person,” Khan said. “Where are they going to get the extra $30?”

The groups also want new rules for low-income customers, such as more flexible payment arrangements and no reconnection fee.

Khan said the discount rate would save lowincome ratepayers $9 to $16 a month.

“For someone who’s getting $610 a month, having an extra $16 to spend is actually quite meaningful,” Khan said.

Simi Heer, B.C. Hydro’s media relations manager, said in a statement that a separate rate for low-income customers would be “unduly discriminatory” to other ratepayers.