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Page 2, Whitby Free Press, Wocfnesday, November 23 1994 Rugged Replays operates a fuit service ski shop with personalized ski tuning by certif ied technicians. Custom race tuning and boot fitting service available. OnBunsSt btwenK nrmmLod &nvicsnR 404-2063 b6 11 - s. oss @bel $5.00 OFF: SKI TUNE-UPj 20% OFF CLOTHING: I BII~UA~E Expires I R HAS Dec. 31/94I HW 2KN.ST.o N 0 ST0aia o InBUNSST IBOIC EHWZ 401 jk jk: j j ............. :::- ............... ................ .................. ..... ........ .......... . .............. .......... :j:j:j: . . . . . . . . . . . c r e ........... .. ................. ...... ....... 1 .......... ............ j:j:: ............ .......... .... .. . ....... .. Il .. .. By Mike Kowalski The cost of electricity in Whitby will remain the same for at ieast another year. In one of its final acts laat week, the outgoing Whitby Hydre Electric Commission voted te freeze rates for the second straight year. The iast time commissioners raised hydre rates was in 1993 when the utilitys 22 000 residen- tial and commerciaf users were hit with a whopping 7.9 per cent increase. Commission chair Geraid Cex said that although the utility's finances are "severeiy strained,» a freeze was needed te, allow customers "some breathing roem » while the economy slewly im proves. Many of our residential custo- mers have seen a reduction in family income over the past few years and many local businesses are barely makçing ends ineet," Cox said in a press release. "We simply couid not, in goed conscience, add te that burden,» he added. Although Ontario Hydro is not charging municipal utilities more for power in 1995, local officiais are not obligated to freeze rates charged to their custemers. For example, the Oshawa Pub- lic Utilities Commission in- creased rates by two per cent in 1994 even though Ontario Hydro's freeze was in effect for this year as well. However, Oshawa residents will en'o a one per cent decrease in their hydro buis next year foilowing a decision by the Osh- awa commission iast week te, reduce rates for 1995. Elsewhere in Durham Region, the Ajax Hydre Commission has frozen rates for the second con- secutive year. But in Pickering, the average c> '<OVER 2,000 SQ. FEET NO NEED TO INSPECT SPLASH! SPLASH! Move in condition, main loor fam ily room This spotlessly clean 3+1 bedroomn home, Enoy the cold wvinter nights by the f ire in WJ and laundry room, large eat-ln kitchen with upgrddkhhen with walkout f0 deck, the main floor family room and enjoy (o walkout, finshed rec. room and central air. finished basement with fireplace and the hot summrrer days in the pool. Core hve lok. skigsl89,00. extra bedroomn with ensuite. Cen be yours 4 bedrooms. 3 bathrooens and eat-in kitchen. Ã" om av alok Akng 1980.for only $164.900. A Must To See. Great Value At $187700. IX CALL ROSEMARY BROWN d4a33-2121!4I residentiai customer wiIl benefit from a 2.6 per cent rate decrease in 1995 wlile commercial and industrial users will enjoy rate decreases of up to 1.4 per cent. According to a press release fremn Pickering Hydre, the decrease was made possible by a «careful" examination of ail the utility's costs «to determine where savings were feasibie." The cost of purchasing electri- city from Ontario Hydre repre- sents 86,<per cent of Pickering Hydro's total expenses. TThe non-elected Pickering Hydro Electric Commission is appointed b that municipality's town council Meanwhile, last week's Whitby Hydro meeting was the final one for 'veteran commissioner Cox who chose not to seek re-election. The new commission takes office on Dec. 1 and holds its first meeting Dec. 13. Returning for another term are incumbents Rai] h Blank, Bill Lawler and Don MacMaster. John Hughes, who was forced to resign from the commission two years- ago after declaring bankruptcy, was also successfui in iast Mondais municipal elec- tion. ROTARY CASH CWDR ............... ......12 . -MMMMMJ W-