Mike Brown seeks help for Great Lakes Power customers

Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown introduced a private member's bill today aimed at providing relief for customers of Great Lakes Power.

Brown's bill would allow GLP customers to participate in rural rate assistance, a program aimed at offseting the high costs of distribution and transmission in rural areas.

Brown issued the following news release:

**************************************************************** MPP Brown introduces private member's bill to lower GLP electricity bills

(QUEEN'S PARK) - Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown today introduced a private member's bill that will provide real rural rate assistance for customers in the Great Lakes Power service area.

Rural rate assistance is a program in which all electricity customers in the province of Ontario pay a small percentage of their bill into a pool.

This pooled fund is then used to offset the high costs of distribution and transmission in rural areas of the Province.

Although all customers pay for rural rate assistance when they pay their bill, Great Lakes Power customers are excluded from benefiting from the program.

So while these customers pay they cannot receive the benefit.

"The Eves government is clearly discriminating against the customers of Great Lakes Power," said Liberal Mike Brown.

"Rural rate assistance would save ordinary residential customers hundreds of dollars per year depending on their consumption," said MPP Brown.

Brown noted that Ontario Liberals are working very hard finding workable solutions to lessen the disastrous effect of the Ernie Eves electricity policy.

Ontario Liberals called repeatedly during the fall session of the legislature to provide Ontarians with rebates for the unbelievably high cost of the commodity.

Brown and his colleagues are now working diligently to bring fairness to the regulated rates for transmission and distribution.

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