I am bewildered by John Harding’s story in The NEWS regarding Epcor’s rate hikes with one aspect in particular: “rider rates.”
How did they get the right to add those to the high price they already charge?
That’s like going for a coffee and being charged an extra 25 cents in case you might want one next week. Ludicrous.
What government department which oversees public utilities would grant such a ridiculous rate rider? Something smells about this whole private ownership of a public service and it’s not the French Creek herring spawn.
Why should a small group of citizens who depend on water services be subject to the profit margin of a private company when no other citizens in the area are?
Why would the B.C. government not take over the service and invest whatever profits there are into servicing and infrastructure of the system?
Whomever the “comptroller” is, act on behalf of the people and demand that Epcor get rid of the rider rates and request a reasonable rate increase or force them to sell off this portion of their empire by taxing their rights and profits heavily.
Richard BothwellQualicum
