Their colleagues inside the chamber Tuesday were decidedly less charitable, as they marked the debut of the final session at Queen's Park before the Oct. 6 election.

"Premier, you have made an expensive mess out of Ontario's hydro system, and you don't respect the fact that Ontario families are being stuck with your bills," said Conservative party Leader Tim Hudak, kicking off a 12-week session that will feature plenty of election-ready messages from the parties.

The debate over the hydro system was exacerbated by news that the Ontario Energy Board agreed Tuesday to let utilities, such as Hydro Ottawa, to raise rates to recover $17.7 million they paid in fines and legal costs after charging consumers excessive interest rates on late payments.

The decision will add roughly .20 cents per month to the average bill, according to an official.

Hydro One customers will not be affected.

The small hike comes as the energy regulator decides whether to grant Ontario Power Generation permission to hike its electricity rates 6.2 per cent effective March 1. That decision would likely have an even bigger impact on monthly bills than Tuesday's ruling.

An OPG hike will add $1.86 to the average monthly bill.

There was some substance to the day. The government granted Toronto's wish to label its transit system an "essential service," tabling legislation that would prohibit strikes and lockouts in the future. Continued...