Ombudsman’s Report Underlines Why Plan to Sell Hydro One Should Be Scrapped: MPP Bailey

(Queen’s Park)-  On Monday, Sarnia-Lambton MPP, Bob Bailey, once again called on the Liberal Government to scrap their plan to give up control of Hydro One following the blistering report of mismanagement, billing mistakes, and poor customer service released by Ontario’s Ombudsman, Andre Marin.

“Mr. Marin’s report on the failings at Hydro One is further proof that Premier Wynne needs to rip up her plan to sell off majority ownership of Hydro One,” said MPP Bailey.  “Once the Liberal Government has sold off 60% of Hydro One, the independent officers of the Legislature, like the Ombudsman and Auditor General, will no longer be able to investigate complaints at Hydro One, where will customers in Lambton County turn then?” added MPP Bailey.

During the Ombudsman’s yearlong investigation into billing concerns at Hydro One, the Office of the Ombudsman received over 10,000 complaints from Hydro One customers. During the investigation, the Ombudsman found that the number of affected customers was significantly higher. In his report the Ombudsman wrote “when one adds the thousands who experienced hardships as a result of other system errors and billing inaccuracies since May 2013, the tally of those affected by Hydro One’s bungling is likely well over 100,000.”

“While no local cases were highlighted specifically in the report, my constituency office dealt with dozens of Hydro One customers who were overbilled, didn’t get a bill, received dozens of bills the same day, were threatened with shut off, or were given the run around by customer service agents,” noted MPP Bailey.  “Hydro One tried to hide what was going on for years in an attempt to deflect criticism, if control of this agency is given away as Premier Wynne plans to do, the 1.3 million rural and urban customers of Hydro One will lose their ability to hold this agency accountable.”

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