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A review of the electricity sector is taking place and that includes looking at consolidating utilities. North Bay Hydro’s Chief Operating Officer Todd Wilcox says they do support looking for efficiencies. But he says for residents in North Bay, for every dollar they pay, 82 cents goes to the province and this review is not looking at that. Wilcox says the biggest way to reduce costs is looking at the provincial innitiatives and not just consolidation. He says residential customer rates for Hydro One are roughly double North Bay Hydro’s. Wilcox says if they were to consolidate with them today, it would not serve the residents of North Bay well for their rates to go up, if that means to subsidisize those customers. Wilcox says right now they do have control of where money is spent, their costs and rates. But if they were consolidated and no longer own it, he points out residents could be paying here and improving someone else’s infrastructure. A motion from City Council on this matter is expected in two weeks.

Written by: jennifer.sapinet@northbayradio.rogers.com