On November 18, 2015, Manitoba Hydro filed a supplemental application to the Public Utilities Board of Manitoba (PUB) for approval of an interim rate increase of 3.95 per cent, effective April 1, 2016. Manitoba Hydro had originally asked the PUB to approve this rate increase as part of its General Rate Application last year.
“The increase we applied for continues the approach of requesting moderate, predictable rate increases each year to fund the expansion of our generation and transmission system, as well as the renewal and modernization of our grid,” said Darren Rainkie, Chief Financial Officer for Manitoba Hydro.
“Ensuring we can meet the energy needs of our customers today – and tomorrow – is key for us,” said Rainkie. “New generation and transmission projects are required to meet increasing electrical usage. Plus, our distribution system is aging and needs to be renewed and in many cases expanded to maintain reliable service. Those are the drivers behind our request.”
If approved, the monthly electricity bill for a residential customer without electric space heat, using an average of 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, would increase by $3.33 effective April 1, 2016. The monthly bill for a residential customer with electric space heat, using an average of 2,000 kWh a month, would increase by $6.36, commencing April 1, 2016.
Even with the requested rate increases Manitoba Hydro customers will continue to have electricity rates that are affordable and competitive with other utilities in North America.
“The interim rate increase we requested on November 18 is consistent with our plan to gradually increase rates during this period of extensive capital investment, balancing the need for investment to maintain safe and reliable service with providing stable and predictable rates for our customers,” said Rainkie.
Rainkie added that Manitoba Hydro is continuing to offer a wide variety of Power Smart and other energy efficiency programs for residential, commercial and industrial customers to help them use energy more efficiently, and control their energy bills. Manitoba Hydro’s Affordable Energy Program also offers specialized programming to help lower income customers reduce their energy costs.
