Media Release
Cornwall Electric Customers – Rates remain stable 2% increase effective July 1, 2019
For immediate release
May 28, 2019 (Cornwall, Ontario) - Cornwall Electric rates will increase 2.0% July 1, 2019. Jackie Baird, Regional Manager of Cornwall Electric, credits the stability of rates to the long term electricity supply contract with Hydro Quebec. A residential customer using 1000 kWh per month will see an average monthly increase of $1.32.
Like all utilities in Ontario, the wholesale cost of electricity is passed through to customers. This cost represents approximately 80% of the customer’s total bill. Baird said, “The long term contracts in place with Hydro Quebec are wholesale contracts and it has and continues to allow Cornwall Electric rates to compare favorably to surrounding electrical utilities.” Baird is also pleased to share with the customers of Cornwall Electric that a new, long-term contract has been entered into with HQ Energy Marketing Inc. and will continue to provide rate stability of energy prices and reliable electricity well into the future for their customers.
The remaining 20% of the customer’s bill represents the distribution charges. These charges pay for operating expenses, system maintenance and equipment replacements to the Cornwall Electric electrical system to deliver safe and reliable supply of power to customers.
Cornwall Electric promotes energy conservation. By conserving energy, customers can manage their monthly electricity costs and at the same time be a part of reducing the impact on the environment. Customers can conserve energy by making small changes such as switching to energy efficient lighting, appliances, shower heads, and installing programmable thermostats, weather stripping and pool pump timers. These measures can help customers reduce the amount of power they use and experience savings on their power bill.
Cornwall Electric supplies electricity to approximately 24,800 customers in the City of Cornwall, South Glengarry, South Stormont, and the Ontario portion of the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of FortisOntario, headquartered in Fort Erie with operations in distribution and transmission serving approximately 66,000 customers in Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Cornwall, Gananoque and the Algoma District of Ontario. FortisOntario is 100% owned by Fortis Inc. of St. John’s, Newfoundland. For more information on FortisOntario, please visit the corporate website at www.fortisontario.com.
For further information, please contact:
Mrs. Jackie Baird
Regional Manager
Cornwall Electric
Phone: (613) 932-0123 Ext. 4232
jackie.baird@cornwallelectric.com
