North Bay Hydro says if the province is looking into more flexible billing plans for hydro customers, it shouldn’t be too difficult to implement, depending on what the province comes up with.

Chief Operating Officer Todd Wilcox says several years ago they moved to an hourly electricity market, so they have the technology.

“If the province is thinking of maybe changing the off-peak rate a bit more, or peak rates, or moving to some other market, probaby shouldn’t be a great deal of difficulty in adapting the system,” he said.

Wilcox also suggests customers be wary if any energy retailers come offering cheaper rates, because it’s often not the case.

He encourages people to read the fine print.

Meantime, Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault also says the province plans to change the way it buys electricity so it doesn’t focus on wind, solar or any specific technology.

He’s also questioning time-of-use pricing for electricity, which charges much higher rates during peak daylight hours, a practice that critics say unfairly hurts seniors and others who are home during the day.

Wilcox says time-of-use has resulted in a reduction in electricity use by about 5 to 8 percent over the last five years, provincially and locally.

He says customers have been very responsive to conservation.

Meantime, Wilcox says there’s been a fundamental shift in Hydro One’s cost allocation process, resulting in rural customers getting hit with higher costs compared to urban ones.

“Maybe that’s something the minister needs to look at. And perhaps that change in cost allocation needs to be spread over a longer period of time, or does it need to be implemented at all,” he said.

(With files from The Canadian Press)