Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault (left) and local MPP Lou Rinaldi.(Photo: Belleville Chamber of Commerce).
Ontario’s Minister of Energy heard a familiar message today (Friday) at a local Chamber of Commerce roundtable event on energy, and that was that the cost of electricity is a major concern for business.
Minister of Energy Glenn Thibeault visited Belleville today and took part in a roundtable involving small business and larger manufacturing operations from throughout the Quinte region.
Belleville Chamber CEO Jill Raycroft said many stressed the fact that increasing costs of hydro were a worry, while also admitting that delivering hydro costs money.
There was frustration that if businesses used less hydro, their bills would increase on the “global adjustment” side of the bill, so there weren’t any real savings.
Minister Thibeault said the electricity system needed and needs upgrading and it costs money, but that his government has listened and spread the costs of infrastructure improvements over more years to lower users bills, both for homeowners and businesses.
