The Public Utilities Board (PUB) has denied an electricity increase of 3.5% as requested by Manitoba Hydro and instead has approved a 2.5% increase effective June 1, 2019.
The PUB said in a statement that they are concerned about rate stability when new major capital projects come online. All money from the rate increase approved this time will go into a deferral fund to reduce the impact of future rate increases.
There is no increase for on-reserve first nation residential customers or for those living in a diesel zone residential class.
The PUB also said that they are concerned about bill affordability and want the province to take responsibility for developing bill affordability programs for lower-income Manitobans.
