Ontario imposes 25% electricity tariff on US amid trade tensions

ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — Ontario Premier Doug Ford has imposed a 25% tariff on electricity supplied to 1.5 million Americans in response to President Donald Trump’s trade policies. New York is among the states affected by this retaliatory measure.

Maddy Zanetti, co-owner of Impressions of Saratoga, expressed concern about the potential impact on her business and her home. “We’re always turning off lights and we try to be good about it. But we are definitely worried about how our bills might increase over the next few months,” she said.

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) is currently assessing the implications of the tariff. “The NYISO is analyzing the impacts of the order by the Ontario Premier and working closely with the Independent Electricity Operator of Ontario to ensure a reliable grid and stable flows of electricity across interregional transmission lines,” the organization said. They also assured that they expect to have adequate reserves to meet New York’s demand.

Economic commentator Thomas Fellows criticized the tariffs, stating, “This obviously undermines global supply chain logic. And lastly, it doesn’t solve the real problem of working to get our own energy so we don’t have to outsource this to Canada.”

Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer have sent a letter demanding accountability from the Trump administration. The letter stated, “It’s unfortunate that we now consider reliability contingencies should the century-long energy partnership between New York and Canada be destroyed due to President Trump’s harmful and shortsighted actions.”

Fellows further commented, “Trump just doesn’t understand Economics and sadly this is gonna hurt the lower lower middle and middle class the most because they don’t have the discretionary spending to spend more money.”

CBS6 has reached out to NYISO for further clarification on which parts of New York receive electricity from Quebec and which utility companies rely on Canadian electricity, but has not yet received a response.