Montréal, September 10, 2024 - Option consommateurs calls the Domestic Customer Assistance Fund in the energy reform bill a "dish of candy" to be distributed unfairly to residential electricity customers, and asks instead that targeted assistance be provided for low- and middle-income households.
The significant increase in energy production needed to meet demand and accelerate the energy transition will require investments that will have an impact on electricity rates.
The Fonds d'aide à la clientèle domestique is designed to limit the impact of future rate increases on residential customers. The bill stipulates that the Fund will be administered by Hydro-Québec, according to terms and conditions to be determined by the government. The actual assistance that will be provided to residential customers through this fund has yet to be defined.
"We understand between the lines that this measure is intended to enable the government to indirectly limit residential rate increases to 3%, as the Premier promised once again last week. The government is therefore keeping a plate of goodies for itself to distribute regressively and inequitably, through Hydro-Québec rather than offering concrete help to those in need," denounces Sylvie De Bellefeuille, lawyer and Director of Legal Services at Option consommateurs.
To offer concrete help to customers, Option consommateurs believes that targeted measures could be put in place to support vulnerable customers, which could take the form of a tax credit and energy efficiency programs. In this way, households would be supported in a sustainable way, free from purely political considerations.
Although the bill broadens the mission of the Régie de l'Énergie and allows it to set rates every three years, it gives too much power to the government and reduces the scope of the cross-subsidy that guarantees lower rates for residential customers.
The details ofOption consommateurs 's brief will be presented this Tuesday to a parliamentary committee at the National Assembly, and the full document is available on the websiteOption consommateurs.
About usOption consommateurs
Option consommateurs is a non-profit association whose mission is to defend the rights and interests of consumers. It focuses on issues related to personal finance, business practices, financial services, privacy, energy, debt and access to justice.
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For more information or an interview :
Marie-Ève Dumont, Director of Communications
514-777-6133
