Dear Editor:
I read with interest your article “senior launches protest against FortisBC rate hikes” in your issue of April 3.
I, too, have seen a significant increase in my rates, even though I heat my house with geothermal energy (which is the most energy-efficient way to use electricity).
As pointed out in the article, FortisBC argues the new rate can be beneficial for seniors “who typically reside in smaller homes or live by themselves.” What Fortis doesn’t say is that the new rate penalizes those who use electricity to heat their homes.
Home heating is, by far, the largest energy-consuming activity in the average Canadian household. Those who heat their homes with natural gas (most who live in cities) consume far less electricity than those who heat their homes with some form of electric power (mainly rural people who don’t have access to natural gas).
Thus, Fortis’ new rate system acts like a tax on its rural customers.
The Liberal government’s carbon tax is, similarly, punitive against rural dwellers who don’t have the option of taking the bus or driving a small compact car.
And the irony of Fortis’ new rate structure, which is supposed to encourage environmentally-beneficial action, is it will actually lead to new homes in rural areas installing wood stoves to heat their homes and wood burning is one of the worst activities in terms of air pollution.
During the upcoming election campaign, I would urge everyone to question our candidates on whether or not their government would continue to implement policies that unfairly penalizes those of us who live in the rural areas of the province.
Nick Marty
Osoyoos, B.C.
