Tariffs modulated according to the level of consumption: a very simple idea to respond to an unavoidable problem.
As mentioned in the article by Mr. Robillard (“Legault agrees to review Hydro-Québec’s rates”, May 13), the reduction in consumption would prevent the construction of new power stations which have a negative impact on environment and whose development over time is limited. How then can individual consumption be reduced so that the energy currently produced can be distributed to a greater number of consumers? Pricing whose price would increase when consumption exceeds certain thresholds would make it possible to secure the poorest consumers and encourage large consumers to reduce their energy use.
For example, the price threshold could correspond to the energy consumption of a household living in an 800 sq.2 (a 4 ½) heated with electricity, including washer and dryer, hot water and air conditioning in summer. A second consumption bracket that extends between the minimum and double the minimum could be priced at one and a half times the base rate. Then, the kilowatt-hours consumed beyond double the minimum consumption would cost double the base rate and so on.
In Quebec, households living in dwellings of 800 sq.2 cannot afford to pay more for electricity and moreover, they have very little energy-consuming equipment that they could do without. The situation is quite different for a family living in a 3,000 sq.2 with heated double garage, year-round heated outdoor spa, sauna, swimming pool, two electric cars, etc. It would be fair for the latter to pay more for the portion of energy consumed to satisfy luxuries.
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