Keeping The Lights On: Maintaining Universal Access to Electricity

Author

Karen Miller

Organization

Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)

Published

2001

Summary

This report studies the option of restructuring the electricity industry in Canada, and looks at possible policy solutions for financial hardship to low-income consumers. The researchers surveyed various programs that have been put in place by United States jurisdictions to deal with maintaining utility access to low-income Americans, and they do not recommend an immediate move to US style programs in Canada. This study suggests further that the restructuring of the Canadian electricity industry may create results which disproportionately burden low-income customers. The report concludes that the problem of short-term electricity price spikes may justify the eventual implementation of a program to mitigate the impact of such increases.

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Source: Consumer Policy Research Database