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Although not a farmer, live in agricultural area and realize the cost increases that affect farms, will eventually affect us. Can we not all stand together to fight this smart meter issue and related charges on our hydro bill? I am so angry with this Liberal government and what they're getting away with at our expense, I'm considering operating the house with our generator but that would be a drop in the bucket. Unless we all stand together and protest, nothing will be accomplished. If the whole town refused to pay the hydro bill, right across Ontario, will they cut everyone off? You don't want to relive the Ice Storm situation but to what extent are we willing to tolerate the hydro ripoff? This can't be fought alone, farmers should have the upper hand, there will be an outcry if food doesn't make it to the grocery stores. If buying discreetly from the farmer helps sustain the farm, I'm all for it. Ideas, suggestions are needed to work together.  Nancy Moisan

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Are you against the smart meters or against paying more for electricity?
How much more are you paying?
What are you suggesting...working together?
;Not against smart meters but against the Time of Use rates that will apply. We are keeping our usage to a minimum and mostly have gas appliances, water heater and heating, debt retirement, adjusted usage and delivery charges are more than our actual usage and now I hear they're going to add a Green Tax to the bill. This is before the new rates come into effect, those that already have the new rates are finding it skyrocketing, no one can afford that. The Hydro companies (government) just finds another charge to add to the bill, so no matter how you reduce consumption, your bill keeps increasing. I have a problem with that.
We'll be starting on the 29th Dec., Merry Christmas to Mr. McGuinty! Have heard of others in the area who have doubled their bill and the heating has barely started. Why are we not hearing from farmers, this is surely going to be a huge impact on them. I'm willing to participate in anything to get the Liberals to back off on HST and Time of Use rates. A total blackout once a month would be good, we'll be in the dark anyway.

OntAG Admin said:
Are you against the smart meters or against paying more for electricity?
How much more are you paying?
What are you suggesting...working together?
According to other areas who have installed smart meters, it hasn't improved anything, just raised the rates. But its not the meters I have a problem with if they work properly, its the government using them to increase rates beyond what general public can afford and I'd think farmers would be screaming. We aren't under the new rates until the end of this month, others have had their bill doubled, regardless of them lowering consumption. Friend in BC paid $67 for 880kWh incl. a couple of small extra charges and tax, my total for 670 was $122. If you figure in the charges on our bills, it works out to .16kWh. I did some comparisons with other provinces and we being ripped off. Working together, I'm not a farmer but you supply my food, if you have an idea that will convince McGuinty to back off, I'm interested in participating. I would like to pull the breaker at a certain time every month so he can see a black province, that's the only time he'll be in the black. Imagine what our neighbours to the south would say if we did this, don't think they'd be impressed and might, might be a wake up call for our government. Nancy

Nancy Moisan said:
We'll be starting on the 29th Dec., Merry Christmas to Mr. McGuinty! Have heard of others in the area who have doubled their bill and the heating has barely started. Why are we not hearing from farmers, this is surely going to be a huge impact on them. I'm willing to participate in anything to get the Liberals to back off on HST and Time of Use rates. A total blackout once a month would be good, we'll be in the dark anyway.

OntAG Admin said:
Are you against the smart meters or against paying more for electricity?
How much more are you paying?
What are you suggesting...working together?

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