Have your say on proposed Guelph Hydro merger starting Saturday

Public consultations for the Guelph Hydro merger with Alectra begins on Saturday morning at Guelph's Farmers' Market on Gordon Street, and will go until Nov. 9.

The consultations are informal without presentations or question and answer periods.

Times and locations forconsultations

Saturday, Oct. 28 - 7 a.m. to noon
GuelphFarmers' Market, 4 Gordon St.,Guelph

Thursday, Nov. 2 - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Stone Road Mall, 435 Stone Rd W.,Guelph

Monday, Nov. 6- 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Rockmosa Community Centre, 74 Christie St., Rockwood

Tuesday, Nov. 7 - 6:30 p.m. to8:30 p.m.
GuelphCity Hall, Room 112, 1 Carden St.,Guelph

Thursday, Nov. 9 - 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Victoria Road Recreation Centre, 151 Victoria Rd. N.,Guelph

• Guelph Hydro enters merger negotiations with Alectra

GuelphHydro started merger negotiations with AlectraOct. 18.Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie said negotiations will continue until the end of the year, and council hopesto ink the final deal on Dec. 13.

Guthriesaid a merger with Alectra would benefit the city in four ways:

• The utility would continue to have a physical presence in the city.
• Alectra has promised to build a green energy and technology centre in the city, which would create jobs.
• The partnership would increase the city'sdividends, which can be invested in other city projects.
• Rates will drop for hydro customers.