Dear Editor:
This is an open letter to Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson.
We have attached our recent FortisBC electricity bills, which cover the periods between the middle of December and middle of January and the second one from middle of January until the middle of February.
The respective amounts submitted were $874.16 and $698.73, respectively, totaling $1,572.89 for two months.
The provincial Liberal government has stated that B.C.’s electricity rates are among the lowest in Canada and that the typical home using electricity for heat has seen “minimal bill impacts” as a result of the two-tier system.
Really!
Our bills from FortisBC clearly refutes this statement by your government.
The two-tier system is completely discriminatory to the rural citizens of British Columbia who do not have access to natural gas to heat their homes.
For the two months shown, if we had the opportunity of staying at the Tier I rate, our bill would have been $483.77 less.
This two-tier system is nothing more than a tax, which is completely unjustified and is in violation of the BC Utilities Commission Act, which forbids discriminatory rates such as this one.
Despite numerous e-mail from citizens such as ourselves, the Liberal government has done nothing to resolve this issue.
While we have been loyal Liberal supporters in British Columbia, unless this issue is going to be dealt with by the government, BCUC and FortisBC, we will not support you in the upcoming election.
This is not going to go away.
Momentum is building on this important issue with the many voters who rely on electricity to heat their homes and do not have access to natural gas, demanding a more cost efficient method.
Voters also know nothing has been done by the MLA or Liberal government to address this important election issue.
Jonathan and Gail Smith
Osoyoos, B.C.
