Hydro rates are going up again.

Quebec's Energy Board has approved a rate increase of 0.9 per cent for residential clients and 0.3 per cent for industrial clients.

Hydro-Quebec says that will mean an increase of about $1.72 a month for a medium-sized home.

Rate hike takes effect on April 1st.

 

Calls for refunds

According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Quebecers are owed $1.7 billion because of being overcharged by Hydro Quebec between 2005 and 2017. 

On Wednesday, the organization started an ad campaign to remind premier Francois Legault that he once supported reimbursing all the overbilled amounts to customers.

A petition has garnered over 55,000 signatures in support of the idea.

A spokesperson for the premier told CTV Montreal's Max Harrold that the party did not make any promises about refunds during last fall's election campaign.

They also said that two years ago, Legault denounced the then Liberal government's decision to use the extra Hydro Quebec revenues to pay down the province's deficit. 

 

Current reimbursement plans

A spokesperson for Quebec's energy minister told CTV Montreal that the CAQ is satisfied with Hydro Quebec's current protocol, which stipulates that at least 50 percent of overbilled amounts will be reimbursed, but not into the pockets of consumers.

Refunds would take the form of lower rates the following year.