The Liberal government’s Fair Hydro Act is now before Queen’s Park.
It’s the legislation necessary to implement the 25% rate reduction this summer.
Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault says all residential consumers and up to half a million small businesses and farms will benefit.
He adds 800,000 families that live in rural and remote parts of the province will see a reduction of 40%-50%.
NDP critic Peter Tabuns believes the sell-off of Hydro One will still drive up rates.
Tabuns says the move will cause more chaos and damage to an already fragile hydro system.
The Progressive Conservative are calling the Fair Hydro Plan a short-term goal to help Premier Kathleen Wynne win re-election in 2018.
The party has released what it says is an internal document given to the Liberal cabinet in March that suggests after a drop this year, hydro rates will soar again in 2018.
It says the average homeowner will pay $225 a month by 2040, almost double this year’s average.
The PC’s say the document also reveals the debt retirement charge will come back to the bills.
