Goderich Hydro has been given council's approval to investigate a potential merger with another utility.
Mayor Kevin Morrison explains with increasing financial pressure on smaller utilities, Goderich Hydro is faced with three options.
The status quo is not viable; Morrison says there were more than 300 small hydro distributers at one time, but that number is now fewer than 70.
The second option would be a sale of the Goderich company to Hydro One; but Morrison says history with other municipalities has shown that tends to result in huge price increases to consumers.
The third option is a merger; and board members of Goderich Hydro had asked for permission to talk to Erie-Thames – a company with which they have done business in the past.
Goderich council approved the board's request to pursue that option.
