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Niagara Flood Victims Hit With Quadrupled Hydro Bills
19 Sep
Summary
- North Niagara residents face massive hydro bill increases due to flood cleanup.
- Bills have tripled or quadrupled, with one senior's bill jumping to $360.
- City asks Ontario Energy Board for flood relief on elevated hydro charges.
Residents in North Niagara are confronting significantly higher electricity costs as a direct consequence of cleanup efforts following severe July and August flooding. The extensive use of equipment like industrial dehumidifiers and powerful fans to dry out homes has resulted in a dramatic surge in energy consumption.
Many households are now receiving hydro bills that are two to three times their usual amounts. One concerned senior shared her experience of her bill escalating from approximately $50-$80 per month to $360, a sum she expressed difficulty in paying.
In response to these overwhelming charges, the City of St. Catharines Council has unanimously passed a resolution. This resolution calls upon the Ontario Energy Board to explore avenues for providing financial relief to residents. The aim is to acknowledge that these elevated hydro expenses were incurred due to flood-related necessities, not through household fault.
The city is also pursuing provincial assistance through the Municipal Disaster Assistance Program to recoup flood-related costs, estimated in the millions. Additionally, significant funds have been allocated to flood alleviation programs and emergency repairs, including stabilizing a slope in Port Dalhousie following the catastrophic failure of a retaining wall.
