Constituents across the province are reaching out to their MHAs with concerns around abnormally high electricity bills, adding further pressure on households already facing rising costs. During yesterday’s fiscal update, Minister of Finance Craig Pardy repeatedly stated his government’s top three priorities, which included “lower taxes.”
The Public Utilities Board (PUB) recently approved a seven per cent increase in electricity rates. While this increase may not have been immediately noticeable during the warmer summer months, residents are now beginning to feel its impact as electricity usage increases during colder and windier conditions.
Our Liberal MHAs acknowledge the frustration being felt by consumers and are calling on the Conservative Government to remove the provincial portion of the HST from all residential electricity bills.
“We recognize that many people are facing real financial pressures, and concerns around electricity bills continue to be raised by consumers around the province”, says Official Opposition Leader John Hogan. “While government does not set electricity rates, the Official Opposition believes more must be done to support families struggling with affordability.”
As part of our commitment to affordability, the Liberal Party pledged during the campaign to remove the provincial portion of the HST from all residential electricity bills, a measure that would save customers approximately 10 per cent on their bills every month.
If the House of Assembly had been open this Fall, action could have been taken before the holidays. “We will continue to advocate to the Conservative Government to take meaningful action on affordability measures that provide real and immediate relief for households”, says MHA for Burgeo-La Poile Michael King.
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