NEWS:

Kingston -Today, Ontario PC MPPs Steve Clark (Leeds-Grenville) and Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton) said Kingston families continue to pay more on their hydro bills for Dalton McGuinty's expensive energy experiments.

At a time when Ontario families are paying New York and Quebec to take away surplus power, hydro rates that Kingston families pay for their own power are going up again on May 1^st to pay for Dalton McGuinty's energy experiments, like his smart meter tax machines, unaffordable subsidies and his sweetheart Samsung deal. Dalton McGuinty once promised families the expensive energy experiments in his so-called Green Energy Act would increase their hydro bills by only 1 percent. He has since admitted it will cause them to skyrocket 46 percent, and that was his own low-ball estimate.

Tim Hudak and the Ontario PC Caucus will put consumers first - both families and businesses - and respect that they pay the bills. A PC government will give families, seniors and small business owners relief on their hydro bills by pulling the plug on Dalton McGuinty's mandatory smart meter tax machines and putting a stop to signing massive subsidies that pay 80 cents kw/h for power worth 5 cents kw/h.

QUOTES:

"At a time when Ontario families are paying New York and Quebec to take away our surplus power, Kingston families are getting dealt another blow as their hydro rates increase again on May 1^st. It's the eighth time rates have increased under Dalton McGuinty."

-- Steve Clark, Ontario PC MPP

"It's clear we need change in Ontario. And an Ontario PC government will bring change. We will start by pulling the plug on Dalton McGuinty's mandatory smart meter tax machine scheme and give families the choice to decide what system works best for their household."

-- Lisa MacLeod, Ontario PC MPP

QUICK FACTS:

• The hydro rate hikes, which take effect May 1, 2011, will cost Ontario families an additional $75 a year.
• Hydro rates have increased eight times under Dalton McGuinty by a total of 84 percent, and 150 percent for Ontario families and small businesses with smart meter tax machines.
• Dalton McGuinty promised Ontario families his expensive energy experiments contained in his so-called Green Energy Act would only raise hydro bills by 1 percent. He later conceded, in last year's Fall Economic Update, that bills are expected to go up 46 percent by 2015.