Multiple parties participating in N.B.Power's summer-long rate hearing joined forces during final arguments Monday to urge the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board to reject the Crown corporation's full request for an average 9.25 per cent increase in electricity prices in each of two straight years.

A history in New Brunswick of expensive campaign promises not being honoured once an election is finished will not be repeated this year, provincial political parties are insisting.

Low-income electricity customers in New Brunswick have to compete with moderate-income customers for help with efficiency and other cost-saving upgrades, N.B.Power's rate hearing heard Monday.