A hydro tower is seen in Toronto on Wednesday, November 4, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabres)
The Public Utilities Board has denied Manitoba Hydro its asking rate increase of 7.9 percent, but have instead approved a lower increase.
Effective June 1, electricity rates will rise by 3.6 percent for 2018-19.
In its decision, the PUB said it had concerns about bill affordability for Manitoba consumers, recommending the province development a program to assist lower-income Hydro customers.
The PUB also recommended the province allocate a portion of the revenue collected from the Keeyask generating station to fund the bill affordability programs. Additionally, it wants the government to transfer some revenues from the carbon tax to Manitoba Hydro to lower potential future electricity rate increases.
Manitoba Hydro was also asked by the PUB to reduce its spending on energy efficiency programs, and suspend the collection of approximately $900 million of government revenues from Bipole III over the next 13 years.
