VANCOUVER— Premier Christy Clark’s latest hydro hike will add to the rate shock felt by families across B.C., says New Democrat spokesperson on BC Hydro Adrian Dix.

“Premier Christy Clark’s latest hydro rate hike will hurt families and is the result of her government’s bad decisions,” said Dix. “Their abuse of deferral accounts, hiding debt, and pushing ahead with Site C free of scrutiny or a demand for the power is the reason that families will suffer a 28 per cent hike over five years.”

Before the last election, the Christy Clark government said that there may not even be a rate hike, but as soon as the election was over, voters learned the truth.

“Now, Christy Clark is misleading British Columbians again by exaggerating future energy demand in order to justify her exemption of Site C from BCUC approval. The result inevitably will be more rate shocks like the ones that B.C. families are facing now.”

Christy Clark’s 28 per cent hydro hike means the average customer will pay $324 more per year.

“The worst part is that this staggering hydro hike is on top of the myriad of other fees and hidden taxes that Premier Clark has been hitting families with,” said Dix. “The constant increases to hydro, MSP and much more proves that Christy Clark isn’t there for B.C. families.”

B.C. New Democrat Leader, John Horgan, has presented Power BC – a progressive energy plan that will create good paying jobs in every community in B.C., launch careers in the clean energy and tech sector, and protect BC Hydro customers from runaway bills.