OPUC talks publicly on merger possibilities
Ivanno Labricciosa, the newly appointed president and CEO of the Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation, greets one of the attendees of the utility’s public open house on its potential merger with Whitby Hydro and Veridian. Labricciosa later said that customers should expect the price of hydro in Oshawa to go up should there be a merger.
By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express
In the first of what is claimed to be several public meetings, the Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation (OPUC) met with interested citizens at the Jubilee Pavilion to talk about a potential merger.
Several residents were surprised at the format of the open house. Many expected a public forum with a question and answer session, but were greeted by OPUC staffers and several large boards with information.
“This is our first chance at actually putting information out there publicly,” says Ivanno Labricciosa, OPUC’s newly appointed president and CEO.
“For this first, first meeting, I think the idea was to create an environment where we can solicit feedback in multiple ways.”
However, many were disappointed – especially seniors, as no chairs were provided.
“A lot of people are really disappointed,” says Gord Vickers of the Public Power Coalition, and it was not just about the chairs.
“It’s a dog and pony show all the way through,” he said of the meeting.
However, while disappointment may have been the feeling for some, the OPUC urged that there will be several more meetings in the future.
While many of the information boards on display for visitors included information already known to the public – such as the players in the proposed merger and information about the public hydro economy and current trends – some of the information clarified how a possible merger would be approved.
According to the information provided, it would take a series of approvals following the creation of a business case, first by each utility’s board of directors, each municipality and finally the Ontario Energy Board.
Any decision on a merger is set for December.
Answering questions from the media, Labricciosa answered several questions regarding key issues from the public. Several concerns have been raised about the potential increase in rates for users if a merger moves forward.
According to Labricciosa, while the OEB regulates how much rates are allowed to increase following a merger – they must be relative to what customers were paying previously – the newly appointed CEO admitted they will more than likely increase.
“The matter of fact is rates are going to go up,” he says. “We pride ourselves in keeping the services high in Oshawa, the rates reasonable, as low as possible.”
Labricciosa was also quick to address that no decision had been made behind closed doors.
“I’d like to nip that rumour in the bud. We’re at the start of the process, it has not concluded, it has no conclusions, there are no signed deals. It can’t be further from the truth.”