Premier François Legault has promised to limit Hydro-Québec’s rate increase to less than 4% in 2023.
Mr. Legault thus reacted to forecasts suggesting increases that could go up to 5% next year, due to the matching of prices to the rate of inflation.
“I want to reassure Quebecers,” he said at a press briefing. There will be no increase of 4-5% or more in electricity rates on April 1, 2023. We will take steps to compensate Quebecers. »
Mr. Legault did not specify what form this “one-off aid” will take, which must avoid too brutal an impact of inflation on hydroelectricity rates.
“We are going to correct the situation, we are going to take the best way so that, among other things, the middle class does not suffer from this increase,” he promised.
Mr. Legault defended his government’s decision to legislate to match Hydro-Québec’s rate increases with the rate of inflation. Bill 34 was passed in December 2019 under gag order.
“We wanted to limit the increase in electricity rates to inflation,” he told reporters, in a corridor of the National Assembly. On the other hand, we could not foresee that there would be up to 4-5%. »
In the House, Mr. Legault found himself under the wrath of the opposition parties, who criticized his decision to force the adoption of Bill 34.
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