Electricity bills more salt in the wound for Quebecers

QMI agency

Sunday, 21 January 2018 11:17

UPDATE
Sunday, 21 January 2018 11:19

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MONTREAL | The cold wave that has been experienced in Quebec from the beginning of the winter has had a significant impact on the electricity bill of the Quebec.

According to Hydro-Québec, the average increases for the last month will be of the order of $ 12 for lodging, $ 30 for a small house, $ 39 for an average-size house and $ 44 for a large house.

It should be said that December 2017 has been much colder than previous years while the average temperature has been at-8.6 °C, compared to-4.3 °C in the last year, 1.7 °C by 2015 and -2,6 °C in 2014.

“Heating accounts for 60 % of the electricity bill. In the winter, when it is cold, it heats up more and it’s more expensive,” explained the spokesperson for Hydro-Quebec’s Marc-Antoine Pouliot, in an interview with TVA News.

To save energy, the State corporation suggests to lower the heating a degree in your absence and less heating unoccupied areas of your home.

“It must be borne in mind also that if you have problems paying your bills, it takes agreements of payments with our customers,” said Mr. Pouliot by calling the customers struggling with financial difficulties, quickly contact the society of State, before the bills do pile up.

Assistance for needy families

In addition, the organization Sun Youth comes to the aid of families in need who are not able to heat up properly.

Through its aid program to the heating, the organization can deliver free heating oil to those in which the reservoir is empty, can negotiate agreements with Hydro-Québec, but also help families to better insulate their homes with the program Éconologis. Sun youth can also provide financial assistance as a “last resort”.

“It is for low-income families. Often people, after paying their rent. they have to choose between paying for food or paying their electricity bill and heating. These are families who are living in difficult times, which have sometimes housing very poorly insulated that expensive heating,” explained the spokesperson of Sun Youth, Anne St-Arnaud.