Hydro hikes on the way

News — 25 October 2011

By Ally Dunham

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) presented information and low-income options to residents at the Dryden Native Friendship Centre on Oct. 21.

Opening the presentation with a slideshow and general information about the OEB, the focus was on how hydro and natural gas costs are billed, the time of use structure, and signing contracts with retailers and marketers.

According to the OEB, if you sign a contract with one of the many retailers who go door-to-door, you legally have ten days within signing to cancel the contract. You will not have to pay a cancellation fee and your electricity service will continue without interruption.

The OEB also states that the retailer must call you within 10 to 45 days after you sign the contract to verify that you want to continue with the agreement. You do not have to verify the contract. If you choose not to at this time, the contract becomes invalid.

The OEB also says you can cancel the contract up to 30 days after you receive your first bill under the contract. You will have to pay that bill, but you will not have to pay a cancellation fee.

The OEB outlined the time of use meters, and explained the hours and reasons for this new technology.

“What it encourages us to do, is to use less power during high peak periods,” said Lilia esi Shillingford, Advisor and Community Outreach for the OEB. “High peak periods are when businesses, schools, factories and so forth, are generating a lot of power. This is the highest peak.”

Local resident, Richard Johansen expressed concern over the times of the peak periods. In the winter months, peak times are from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Weekends and statutory holidays are all off-peak, and during summer and winter times, the off peak is from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. inclusive.

“I’d like to see off-peak start a little earlier in the evening, so it doesn’t cost you so much money to cook supper for your kids. It screws up our diet because we are waiting until after seven o’clock to even start cooking, that’s too late to be eating,” said Johansen.

“Make sure that you use and pay attention to off peak periods and on peak periods. Electricity prices are going to go up on Nov. 1 and will continue to go up,” said Shillingford.

Residents also expressed concern over the debt retirement charge on all hydro bills, and the length of time consumers have been forced to pay this fee. Lenore V. Dougan, Policy Advisor for the Ontario Energy Board said, “The debt started off at $19.7 billion and it went on your bill around 1998. It has been reduced now to $1.7 billion and it should be paid off within the next two years. It hasn’t been 30 years, although it certainly feels like it, but it has certainly been more than the 10 years. It is depleting, it’s nearly gone and it will be removed very soon.”

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