Legault will force Hydro-Qubec to return $1.5B to its customers

The Quebec government is expected to force Hydro-Qubecto return$1.5 billion to customers who have been overpaying the Crown corporation for electricity.

Hydro-Qubecearned higher returns than authorized by the Rgie de l'nergie in recent years.

The government is planning to introduce a bill Wednesday that will force the Crown corporation to pay its customers back by limiting any rate increase to the rate of inflation.

Hydro-Qubec declined to comment Tuesday, saying the bill hasnot yet been tabled in the National Assembly.

Premier Franois Legault was critical of Hydro's earnings whileleader of the opposition, calling it a "disguised tax."

"I understand that people are frustrated, they would like to see some money coming back, I've asked Hydro-Qubec to make an effort," he said.

He declined to comment on how the money would bereturned to customers.

For some people, slashing rates would be an appropriatemeasure.

Seethal Pathakworks atProject Genesis, an anti-poverty non-profit in Cote-des-Neiges. She said some people can only afford to heat part of their apartment.

"[They]go to the mall to avoid their cold apartments or who even make the choice between eating or heating," she said.

A petition from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation last month was delivered to theLegault government with some75,000 signatures, demanding Quebec reimburse Hydro customers.