Ontario’s Power Trip: The high cost of ‘conservation’
November 17, 2010 – 10:44 pm
Guess what, demand reduction reduces revenue
By Parker Gallant
In June, 2006, Dwight Duncan was Ontario’s Minister of Energy and about to launch a new green initiative for Ontario’s electricity sector, the Conservation Demand Management (CDM) program. The objective was to get Ontario consumers to reduce their peak demand for electricity via conservation.
In a directive to the Ontario Power Authority, he set out the specifics: “The goal for total peak demand reduction from conservation by 2025 is 6300 MW.” Effectively, Mr. Duncan ordered the OPA to push consumers to reduce peak demand by approximately 25% of the load the electricity sector might expect on the hottest July day.
The first phase of that long-range plan, from 2007 to 2010, recently ended with costs well above budget. And a new directive last week points to more of the same over the next three years. Today, Mr. Duncan’s directive and others since are set over time to cost Ontario electricity consumers as much as $2-billion in rate increases.
The burden of those costs — along with others for green energy prices, solar power, and major transmission infrastructure — is now beginning to appear on consumer bills, promoting a political backlash that the Ontario government is now trying to turn back. To counter that backlash, Mr. Duncan, now Minister of Finance, was set to announce countermeasures in an economic statement Thursday.
Initially, the demand reduction scheme brought a heavy-duty marketing campaign. David Suzuki began appearing in OPA ads urging people to get rid of their beer fridges, take power pledges to reduce consumption, throw out old air conditioners, undergo home audits. Do all this, said the ads, and consumers would save money.
But it turns out that saving money via demand reduction apparently costs a lot of money. Each corporation in the Ontario electricity chain incurred costs setting up the program. Toronto Hydro spent $60-million from 2007 to 2010. To get that money back, it sent a bill to the Ontario Power Authority. In all, across the province, the bills mounted as the promotion campaign and other costs mounted. For 2010, the OPA budgeted $286.6-million for CDM — although the OPA’s recently filed 2011 budget now estimate that they will spend $361.1-million for 2010.
But costs for promotion are only part of the cost. Toronto Hydro, Hydro 0ne and all the other electricity distributors in the Ontario system claim to have lost revenue as a result of these programs. These “deteriorated revenues,” apparently the result of conservation, are losses they are now seeking to replace via rate increases.
Toronto Hydro has applied for an 18.2% increase for 2011, or $448-million, based on 2009 revenue. Hydro One, the province-wide transmission company, has applied for a 15.7% increase, or $555-million, based on their 2009 distribution revenues.
But there’s more to come. The current Energy Minister, Brad Duguid, issued a fresh directive last March setting out the new short-term targets. Officially called “2011-2014 Net Annual Peak Demand Savings Target,” it effectively orders Ontario’s 80 local distribution companies to achieve “Peak Demand Savings” of 1,330 megawatts (MW) by 2014.
On Nov. 12, the provincial regulator issued a list of targets by agency. For Toronto Hydro, the target was 286.3 MW and for Hydro One Brampton, the target was 259.2 MW. At an average cost per kilowatt hour of 0.135¢ (based on current billing), that would be a revenue drop for these 80 mainly municipally owed utilities of $1.5-billion.
There is no way of knowing the collective distribution revenue of these distribution companies, so these are only estimates based on current numbers. But Toronto Hydro will likely seek to recover revenue of as much as $338-million in 2014, equal to a rate increase of 13% of current revenues. Hydro One will likely seek to cover lost revenue of $328-million, or 9.3% of current distribution revenue.
Those rate increases are just for the lost revenue portion of the Conservation Demand Management scheme, which come on top of the marketing costs that are still to come.
The CDM is just part of the Ontario system. Then there are the “subsidies” for solar and wind generators that will be adding up by 2014. Ontario could be looking at 35% to 40% power rate hikes on top of the average of 20% experienced this year, plus the 15% to 18% increases that Toronto Hydro and Hydro One are currently seeking.
Financial PostParker Gallant is a former Canadian banker who looked at his Ontario electricity bill and didn’t like what he saw.
Read more: http://opinion.financialpost.com/2010/11/17/ontarios-power-trip-the-high-cost-of-%e2%80%98conservation%e2%80%99/#ixzz15drLML3e
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
IM FREAKING OUT!!!
Email sent to me, likely saw my link in the Star article:
--------------------
I'm so frustrated right now its not even funny. In July I got a staggering Hydro bill of 1898.00. I called they said they didnt read my meter for the past year( oh how nice, so they cut the meter reader jobs out but still our prices go up), so they make a payment arrangment with me and I agree, what else can I do> so then after that my next bill comes in at 780.00, then 880, then 750.
IM FREAKING OUT!!!
my bills last year were 220.00.
SO I just keep plugging along frustrated beyond anything( my poor husband and kids, putting up with this mood I can't seem to get out of)So bottom line, I'm ready to crack. Today they send me in the mail a letter stateing that they will be charging me on my next bill a 1625.00 security deposit because " I dont have a good payment history!!!!%$#%$ how does one have a good payment history when you owe 4200.00, oh ya now it 5825???
Tell me when the protests start and I will be there. Let's get them people, It's time we Canadians stand up for our rights.
--------------------
I'm so frustrated right now its not even funny. In July I got a staggering Hydro bill of 1898.00. I called they said they didnt read my meter for the past year( oh how nice, so they cut the meter reader jobs out but still our prices go up), so they make a payment arrangment with me and I agree, what else can I do> so then after that my next bill comes in at 780.00, then 880, then 750.
IM FREAKING OUT!!!
my bills last year were 220.00.
SO I just keep plugging along frustrated beyond anything( my poor husband and kids, putting up with this mood I can't seem to get out of)So bottom line, I'm ready to crack. Today they send me in the mail a letter stateing that they will be charging me on my next bill a 1625.00 security deposit because " I dont have a good payment history!!!!%$#%$ how does one have a good payment history when you owe 4200.00, oh ya now it 5825???
Tell me when the protests start and I will be there. Let's get them people, It's time we Canadians stand up for our rights.
And the Liberal Bribes Begin, with your own monie.
Liberals to cut hydro bills by 10 per cent
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/891861--liberals-to-cut-hydro-bills-by-10-per-cent?bn=1#article
Note the comments, no one is buying this.
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/891861--liberals-to-cut-hydro-bills-by-10-per-cent?bn=1#article
Note the comments, no one is buying this.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Electricity bills up in part because smart meters more accurate: Duguid
http://www.globalwinnipeg.com/Electricity+bills+part+because+smart+meters+more+accurate+Duguid/3831548/story.html
TORONTO - If electricity bills are up for Ontario homeowners with smart meters it might be the old meter's fault - at least that's what the Liberal government was saying Monday.
The so-called smart meters, which allow people to take advantage of time-of-use pricing for electricity, are more accurate than the 40-to-50-year-old meters they replace, said Energy Minister Brad Duguid.
"I'm not suggesting that bills haven't gone up, but there are a variety of reasons for that," said Duguid, who noted this year's hot summer meant much greater use of air conditioners than last year.
"One less common (reason) is that when you put in the new meter you find out the previous meter wasn't working and billing properly, so the new meter just is bringing bills up to date and is more accurate."
The energy minister is looking for any excuse he can find to explain away soaring electricity bills, said the New Democrats.
"Every day it's a new story from the minister," said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
"The stories that I care about are the ones the people of Ontario are telling me, and that is they cannot afford the cost of hydro."
Premier Dalton McGuinty admitted Monday he hadn't heard about old hydro meters being inaccurate, but he offered a spirited defence of the government's $1-billion program to install smart meters.
"Even the United Kingdom, which is bound and determined to reduce government costs, is moving as quickly as they can to install smart meters in their homes and businesses so they can better manage their electricity system," McGuinty said at an unrelated event.
"It's something that we simply must do as we come of age as an economy that is going to responsibly manage its electricity system."
The Progressive Conservatives call smart meters tax machines and vow to give consumers the option of staying on fixed prices for electricity instead of moving to time-of-use pricing if they win next year's election.
The New Democrats accused the government of hiding the true cost of the smart meter program, noting Hydro One estimates its costs for smart meters at $1 billion - the same as the government's estimate for the whole program - and Hydro One is responsible for only one-fifth of the customers who will get the new meters.
"Something's not adding up," said Horwath.
"That's why we want the auditor general to go in and do a cost-benefit analysis because we need to know exactly what the not-so-smart meter program is costing the people of Ontario."
The smart meter program is not over budget, insisted Duguid.
"We're on budget, on time when it comes to rolling out smart meters across this province," he said.
Smart meters have been installed in over four million Ontario homes, but only about one quarter of that number have actually switched to time-of-use pricing. Early figures show they are saving money with the smart meters, added Duguid.
"The preliminary work for those that have been on (time of use pricing) for an extended period of time would show a slight decrease to date in their bills, on average," he said.
"It is a very modest impact, and on average, a small savings to the consumer."
That's not what hydro customers are telling the NDP, said Horwath, who again demanded the Liberal government remove the HST from electricity bills.
"The HST is salt in the wound to hydro costs," said Horwath. "Just take the HST off of hydro and start giving people a break."
McGuinty has already rejected the idea of removing the HST from electricity bills.
---------------
RW: Guess Duguid doesn't know about Measurements Canada, all devices have to be validated. I find it rather hard to believe that in 50 years Ontario Hydro never tested the old meters to see if they slow with age. Wanna bet there is a burried report somewhere proving they maintained their accuracy?
TORONTO - If electricity bills are up for Ontario homeowners with smart meters it might be the old meter's fault - at least that's what the Liberal government was saying Monday.
The so-called smart meters, which allow people to take advantage of time-of-use pricing for electricity, are more accurate than the 40-to-50-year-old meters they replace, said Energy Minister Brad Duguid.
"I'm not suggesting that bills haven't gone up, but there are a variety of reasons for that," said Duguid, who noted this year's hot summer meant much greater use of air conditioners than last year.
"One less common (reason) is that when you put in the new meter you find out the previous meter wasn't working and billing properly, so the new meter just is bringing bills up to date and is more accurate."
The energy minister is looking for any excuse he can find to explain away soaring electricity bills, said the New Democrats.
"Every day it's a new story from the minister," said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
"The stories that I care about are the ones the people of Ontario are telling me, and that is they cannot afford the cost of hydro."
Premier Dalton McGuinty admitted Monday he hadn't heard about old hydro meters being inaccurate, but he offered a spirited defence of the government's $1-billion program to install smart meters.
"Even the United Kingdom, which is bound and determined to reduce government costs, is moving as quickly as they can to install smart meters in their homes and businesses so they can better manage their electricity system," McGuinty said at an unrelated event.
"It's something that we simply must do as we come of age as an economy that is going to responsibly manage its electricity system."
The Progressive Conservatives call smart meters tax machines and vow to give consumers the option of staying on fixed prices for electricity instead of moving to time-of-use pricing if they win next year's election.
The New Democrats accused the government of hiding the true cost of the smart meter program, noting Hydro One estimates its costs for smart meters at $1 billion - the same as the government's estimate for the whole program - and Hydro One is responsible for only one-fifth of the customers who will get the new meters.
"Something's not adding up," said Horwath.
"That's why we want the auditor general to go in and do a cost-benefit analysis because we need to know exactly what the not-so-smart meter program is costing the people of Ontario."
The smart meter program is not over budget, insisted Duguid.
"We're on budget, on time when it comes to rolling out smart meters across this province," he said.
Smart meters have been installed in over four million Ontario homes, but only about one quarter of that number have actually switched to time-of-use pricing. Early figures show they are saving money with the smart meters, added Duguid.
"The preliminary work for those that have been on (time of use pricing) for an extended period of time would show a slight decrease to date in their bills, on average," he said.
"It is a very modest impact, and on average, a small savings to the consumer."
That's not what hydro customers are telling the NDP, said Horwath, who again demanded the Liberal government remove the HST from electricity bills.
"The HST is salt in the wound to hydro costs," said Horwath. "Just take the HST off of hydro and start giving people a break."
McGuinty has already rejected the idea of removing the HST from electricity bills.
---------------
RW: Guess Duguid doesn't know about Measurements Canada, all devices have to be validated. I find it rather hard to believe that in 50 years Ontario Hydro never tested the old meters to see if they slow with age. Wanna bet there is a burried report somewhere proving they maintained their accuracy?
Friday, November 12, 2010
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
I am SICK of these vultures known as Hydro One. They are absolutely OUT OF CONTROL. In July, despite the fact that my balance said 'zero' they showed up at my door saying I owed $2000.00, which I begrudgingly paid.
Then, on the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend, they showed up at my door claiming I owed ANOTHER $1500.00, which I DIDN'T pay, as I simply do not have the money to do so.The ONLY thing I was THANKFUL for was that my 10 friends who come annually for Thanksgiving couldn't make it this year. What a disaster THAT would have been.
I hope that the CEO of Hydro One enjoyed HIS Thanksgiving dinner in his warm house. I, on the other hand, ate a cold can of Pork & Beans, huddled under the blankets with my dying lab, who passed away two days later. Happy Thanksgiving. I am SO glad I live in SUCH a WONDERFUL country. UNBELIEVABLE.
Just a little background FYI: I am a University Graduate with 2 (almost 3) degrees. I had a good job making about $90,000 a year until I had to go on a medical leave, (which I am still on). At that point, I lost all my medical benefits (??? Yes- Figure THAT one out!!) and 4 YEARS later I am STILL fighting the ONTARIO TEACHERS' INSURANCE PLAN (OTIP)to try and get compensation.I have borrowed money from friends and family, because of course, if one is disabled in this country, one cannot access the equity built up in your home. So....despite the fact that I am on a medical leave and have had NO income for 4 years, Hydro continually preys on those who are struggling the most in this country- AND then adds on SECURITY DEPOSITS with their offer to reconnect after FULL payment. I find this absolutely incredible.So, am I going to have to sell my 1857 log cabin that I have worked ALL my life for because I can't afford to pay HYDRO????
What is going to happen in the next few weeks/months when the pipes freeze and burst and flood my house? I can't run a pump to pump water out. My furnace will be destroyed and who knows what else. What is my recourse then??? Can I launch a lawsuit against Hydro One to pay for all THOSE damages they CAUSE?
My other concern are my horses that arrived the week after Thanksgiving. Their arrival was planned months in advance, and now, I haven't even been ABLE to activate the electric fencing as of yet. Although I live in the country, I live near two major roads, and if my horses get out on the road and get killed (or cause deaths) because the electric fences aren't on.
THAT BLOOD WILL BE ON THEIR HANDS and THEY WILL PAY. There is absolutely NO POSSIBLE WAY that I can use this much hydro (roughly $500.00/month). I live alone. I use ONE light, my laptop and a 13" tv in my bedroom. I shower once a week. I have a propane furnace and stove. My Energy Star fridge is brand new. My washer and dryer are brand new EnergyStar products as well, but I NEVER use a dryer- summer or winter.
This past summer, I ran two fans, a small window air conditioner(new) and a dehumidifier in the basement. I know people who are running hot tubs, pools, and have barns, and their bills are less than half of mine. I know people with teenagers who have daily showers and use a multitude of small appliances as well as computers, stereos, gaming systems, blow dryers, and do laundry on a daily basis, and their bills are less than half of mine as well. So what's wrong with this picture?
I received a letter from Hydro One a few months ago, regarding 'stray voltage' on farms. They were ORDERED to write this letter by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to inform farmers about this problem. While the focus of the letter is how the stray voltage can produce electrical shocks that affect livestock, I contend that it must ALSO affect the SMART METERS in some way.
Their fact sheet states, "Poor or faulty farm wiring, improper grounding, unbalanced farm system loading, defective equipment or VOLTAGES FROM TELEPHONE LINES OR GAS PIPELINES ARE ALL POSSIBLE SOURCES OF STRAY VOLTAGE."I have BOTH of these types of lines running right beside my Hydro Line and past the SMART METER, so perhaps THAT is what is causing the problems with the meter. I don't know, I'm not an electrician. But just TRY and get someone from Hydro to address these problems....it is HOPELESS.
I guess I should consider myself 'lucky', as I have another building on my property that has a separate Hydro meter, and thus, a separate account.
When the hydro in the house was cut off, I ran two electrical cords over to my house.
Here is a summary of what I am currently running in my shop:
-a small (new) freezer
-one extension cord that I plugged in to my pellet stove so that I am able to have heat in one room.
(The last few days, since we have had snow, I have let the pellet stove run all day/night on low.)
- the second extension cord I use to power my laptop, cellphone charger, router/modem and one light in my bedroom. -occasionally, I will plug the tv in for an hour to watch the news, or plug the vacuum in
- two small 'fridges' in the shop (one is actually a little wine cooler, but I have been using it as a fridge, and the other is an old mini bar-fridge).
This is the list of what is drawing power on the shop meter, and over a ONE WEEK PERIOD I used a total of 47 kWh.
In my house, Hydro tells me I use over 55 kWh A DAY, to which I say there is NO POSSIBLE WAY. If I am using this amount of electricity in a month, how can ANYONE in this province survive, because they must be paying $2000-$3000 A MONTH considering the appliances, lights, hot water etc. that they use.
This just doesn't make sense but Hydro constantly tries to turn it around and say YOU are at fault- not any of THEIR equipment or methods of reading data.) Again I have to ask:
WHY ARE WE CANADIANS SO COMPLACENT AND ALLOWING HYDRO TO GET AWAY WITH THIS??????? I think one possible answer is that people are tired of trying to fight this battle with Goliath on their own, and I am SO glad that I discovered your website. I will be sending it to each and every person in my Contacts list, as well as every SINGLE MP AND MPP. Maybe if they start reading some of these comments they will see the impact that Hydro is having on Canadians- the CONSTITUENTS THAT VOTED THEM IN...and can just as easily vote them out.
I for one, am SO, SO, SO tired of continually fighting with Hydro and getting nowhere. I feel I am alone on the battlefield, and to be honest, with the lawsuit against the Insurance company in progress, as well as my illness, I don't have the physical or mental strength to continually fight.
One very rude Hydro One manager said to me, "I don't know what your problem is. That is an average bill for an average family." I told her that, "No, that ISN'T what an average family is paying for hydro and more importantly, I am not an 'average family'. I am ONE person."
The government and our representatives really DON'T care what is going on in this province, as evidenced by the meeting I attempted to set up with my MPP regarding a number of issues, one being Hydro. His 'assistant' was running interference however, and wouldn't even let me schedule an appointment with him. When I explained the dilemma I was having with hydro, her comment was as follows:"Perhaps you need to go to Credit Counselling so they can help you with some bills." (yes, unbelievable, I know). No. I DON'T need Credit Counselling. What I DO need is a RESPONSIBLE government that will reign these vultures in, stop this madness and return Ontario to it's once prosperous state, rather than a 'have-not' province that is resembling a third-world country. (Actually, I have lived in a third-world country, and had a better standard of living as well as better utility services, for about an eighth of the cost of what I pay here.)
I am ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED that Hydro is allowed to do whatever they please, charging exorbitant prices, gouging hard-working Canadians, while wreaking havoc on households by cutting off power. And all the while, they are walking away with multi-million dollar wages and ever-increasing profits.
WHY ARE WE PUTTING UP WITH THIS????
This HAS to END.PERIOD.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Sincerely, Patti Tufford
Then, on the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend, they showed up at my door claiming I owed ANOTHER $1500.00, which I DIDN'T pay, as I simply do not have the money to do so.The ONLY thing I was THANKFUL for was that my 10 friends who come annually for Thanksgiving couldn't make it this year. What a disaster THAT would have been.
I hope that the CEO of Hydro One enjoyed HIS Thanksgiving dinner in his warm house. I, on the other hand, ate a cold can of Pork & Beans, huddled under the blankets with my dying lab, who passed away two days later. Happy Thanksgiving. I am SO glad I live in SUCH a WONDERFUL country. UNBELIEVABLE.
Just a little background FYI: I am a University Graduate with 2 (almost 3) degrees. I had a good job making about $90,000 a year until I had to go on a medical leave, (which I am still on). At that point, I lost all my medical benefits (??? Yes- Figure THAT one out!!) and 4 YEARS later I am STILL fighting the ONTARIO TEACHERS' INSURANCE PLAN (OTIP)to try and get compensation.I have borrowed money from friends and family, because of course, if one is disabled in this country, one cannot access the equity built up in your home. So....despite the fact that I am on a medical leave and have had NO income for 4 years, Hydro continually preys on those who are struggling the most in this country- AND then adds on SECURITY DEPOSITS with their offer to reconnect after FULL payment. I find this absolutely incredible.So, am I going to have to sell my 1857 log cabin that I have worked ALL my life for because I can't afford to pay HYDRO????
What is going to happen in the next few weeks/months when the pipes freeze and burst and flood my house? I can't run a pump to pump water out. My furnace will be destroyed and who knows what else. What is my recourse then??? Can I launch a lawsuit against Hydro One to pay for all THOSE damages they CAUSE?
My other concern are my horses that arrived the week after Thanksgiving. Their arrival was planned months in advance, and now, I haven't even been ABLE to activate the electric fencing as of yet. Although I live in the country, I live near two major roads, and if my horses get out on the road and get killed (or cause deaths) because the electric fences aren't on.
THAT BLOOD WILL BE ON THEIR HANDS and THEY WILL PAY. There is absolutely NO POSSIBLE WAY that I can use this much hydro (roughly $500.00/month). I live alone. I use ONE light, my laptop and a 13" tv in my bedroom. I shower once a week. I have a propane furnace and stove. My Energy Star fridge is brand new. My washer and dryer are brand new EnergyStar products as well, but I NEVER use a dryer- summer or winter.
This past summer, I ran two fans, a small window air conditioner(new) and a dehumidifier in the basement. I know people who are running hot tubs, pools, and have barns, and their bills are less than half of mine. I know people with teenagers who have daily showers and use a multitude of small appliances as well as computers, stereos, gaming systems, blow dryers, and do laundry on a daily basis, and their bills are less than half of mine as well. So what's wrong with this picture?
I received a letter from Hydro One a few months ago, regarding 'stray voltage' on farms. They were ORDERED to write this letter by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to inform farmers about this problem. While the focus of the letter is how the stray voltage can produce electrical shocks that affect livestock, I contend that it must ALSO affect the SMART METERS in some way.
Their fact sheet states, "Poor or faulty farm wiring, improper grounding, unbalanced farm system loading, defective equipment or VOLTAGES FROM TELEPHONE LINES OR GAS PIPELINES ARE ALL POSSIBLE SOURCES OF STRAY VOLTAGE."I have BOTH of these types of lines running right beside my Hydro Line and past the SMART METER, so perhaps THAT is what is causing the problems with the meter. I don't know, I'm not an electrician. But just TRY and get someone from Hydro to address these problems....it is HOPELESS.
I guess I should consider myself 'lucky', as I have another building on my property that has a separate Hydro meter, and thus, a separate account.
When the hydro in the house was cut off, I ran two electrical cords over to my house.
Here is a summary of what I am currently running in my shop:
-a small (new) freezer
-one extension cord that I plugged in to my pellet stove so that I am able to have heat in one room.
(The last few days, since we have had snow, I have let the pellet stove run all day/night on low.)
- the second extension cord I use to power my laptop, cellphone charger, router/modem and one light in my bedroom. -occasionally, I will plug the tv in for an hour to watch the news, or plug the vacuum in
- two small 'fridges' in the shop (one is actually a little wine cooler, but I have been using it as a fridge, and the other is an old mini bar-fridge).
This is the list of what is drawing power on the shop meter, and over a ONE WEEK PERIOD I used a total of 47 kWh.
In my house, Hydro tells me I use over 55 kWh A DAY, to which I say there is NO POSSIBLE WAY. If I am using this amount of electricity in a month, how can ANYONE in this province survive, because they must be paying $2000-$3000 A MONTH considering the appliances, lights, hot water etc. that they use.
This just doesn't make sense but Hydro constantly tries to turn it around and say YOU are at fault- not any of THEIR equipment or methods of reading data.) Again I have to ask:
WHY ARE WE CANADIANS SO COMPLACENT AND ALLOWING HYDRO TO GET AWAY WITH THIS??????? I think one possible answer is that people are tired of trying to fight this battle with Goliath on their own, and I am SO glad that I discovered your website. I will be sending it to each and every person in my Contacts list, as well as every SINGLE MP AND MPP. Maybe if they start reading some of these comments they will see the impact that Hydro is having on Canadians- the CONSTITUENTS THAT VOTED THEM IN...and can just as easily vote them out.
I for one, am SO, SO, SO tired of continually fighting with Hydro and getting nowhere. I feel I am alone on the battlefield, and to be honest, with the lawsuit against the Insurance company in progress, as well as my illness, I don't have the physical or mental strength to continually fight.
One very rude Hydro One manager said to me, "I don't know what your problem is. That is an average bill for an average family." I told her that, "No, that ISN'T what an average family is paying for hydro and more importantly, I am not an 'average family'. I am ONE person."
The government and our representatives really DON'T care what is going on in this province, as evidenced by the meeting I attempted to set up with my MPP regarding a number of issues, one being Hydro. His 'assistant' was running interference however, and wouldn't even let me schedule an appointment with him. When I explained the dilemma I was having with hydro, her comment was as follows:"Perhaps you need to go to Credit Counselling so they can help you with some bills." (yes, unbelievable, I know). No. I DON'T need Credit Counselling. What I DO need is a RESPONSIBLE government that will reign these vultures in, stop this madness and return Ontario to it's once prosperous state, rather than a 'have-not' province that is resembling a third-world country. (Actually, I have lived in a third-world country, and had a better standard of living as well as better utility services, for about an eighth of the cost of what I pay here.)
I am ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED that Hydro is allowed to do whatever they please, charging exorbitant prices, gouging hard-working Canadians, while wreaking havoc on households by cutting off power. And all the while, they are walking away with multi-million dollar wages and ever-increasing profits.
WHY ARE WE PUTTING UP WITH THIS????
This HAS to END.PERIOD.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Sincerely, Patti Tufford
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Toronto Hydro and an Ongoing Dispute
This is a horror story posted at this personal blog: http://mephie1.blogspot.com/2010/10/toronto-hydro-and-ongoing-dispute.html
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Toronto Hydro and an Ongoing Dispute
I find it incredibly ridiculous that after 8 1/2 months, I actually have to post this online in an effort to get Toronto Hydro to actually respond to an issue that I discovered in January. Since the initial phone call in late January, I have been brushed off by Toronto Hydro in trying to settle a billing dispute and have had to take many steps to try and rectify the situation. At this point absolutely nothing has worked. By posting on my blog, on Facebook, and on Youtube, perhaps I can spur them into acting on my complaint.
In late January, we received our hydro bill for the November-December billing period. The bill is in my brother's name and we have both been trying to solve this since January. It was apparent right from that point that there was some kind of mistake as the consumption for the billing period was incredibly high, and the bill itself was almost 200.00 over our average bill. I immediately phoned Toronto Hydro and from that point on we were given excuse after excuse as to why the bill was so high. (Another point to note is that the next billing period went back down to our average consumption level. This also indicated to me that there was a problem.)
Here are the numbers. Our average consumption was anywhere between 1100 and 1300 kwh for the last 24 billing periods. For this period however the consumption was indicated as being 2176 kwh. That is more than a 60% increase over our average. Our highest consumption in the last 24 months was only 1657 kwh, when we had a another family member staying with us who worked shift work. The consumption indicated on the January bill was 30 % above that. So, 60 % above our average consumption, and over 30% above our highest ever consumption was an indication that there was something wrong. I was referred to the usage tracking website. That site was useless. It showed me the usage sure, but that was based on the information from the meter. I can't verify it, I don't read the meter, and it is not like I actually see the hydro as I consume it.
Right from the onset, we were given excuse after excuse as to why our bill was so high. We were told that we had had a smart meter installed in October, and that the bill could absolutely not be wrong. The several assumptions were made that had to be corrected right away.
First it was suggested that it was our actual energy provider that we had to deal with because Toronto Hydro had no clue as to what we were being charged. This is ridiculous. The way the system works in Toronto, is that if you are not a Toronto Hydro consumer you are FORCED to deal with them as they do the billing for your actual energy provider. To suggest that they have no idea what we were being charged is ridiculous. They prepare the bills.
Second we were told that it was because the billing period was for November and December and that the consumption rate was higher because our furnace would have been on during those two months. Immediately it was pointed out to them that our heat is provided by the landlord in our building, and that it on a separate meter and our landlord is responsible for that.
Finally, and this one absolutely kills me, it was suggested that during December we would have had a higher consumption because we would have been running Christmas lights. They automatically assumed that we are a) Christian, and b) would have been running Christmas lights. Our religion is absolutely none of their business, and to assume either of those two things is ludicrous. It was immediately made clear to Toronto Hydro that our religion is irrelevant, and we did NOT put up Christmas lights in December because two of the three members of our household were away for the last half of December.
Since then, we have been in contact with our actual energy provider and they proved to be quite useful. They sent us the usage data for the last 24 billing periods and were eager to assist with this matter. When Toronto Hydro was asked for usage details, what we received was ONLY the details for the billing period in question. That was absolutely useless to us. We already HAD the information for that period.
During the summer, after months of trying to get Toronto Hydro to respond to this issue we took the following steps. We contacted our MP, our MPP, Hydro One, The Ontario Energy Board, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and the Ombudsman for the Province of Ontario. We got only two responses back. The first was from the Ombudsman's office who indicated to us that this was outside their purview.
The second response was from our MPP, Peter Tabuns. His office attempted to assist us with this matter, but they were given the same response. The meter couldn't be wrong and the consumption was based on the smart meter reading. The indicated to our MPP's office that they would be in contact with us to try and resolve this issue. As of yet, we have heard absolutely nothing from Toronto Hydro.
There are several things that I have discovered as this situation has progressed. First, as I said before, consumers are FORCED to deal with Toronto Hydro. We have no choice. We cannot even argue any point regarding our bills because we don't read the meters or see the data. We simply have to take their word for it that the bill is correct. Well, I won't do that.
Second, I have discovered that contacting government agencies simply doesn't work. The agencies in place to assist consumers seem to be useless. I heard absolutely nothing from the Ministry, Hydro One, or the Ontario Energy Board.
Finally there is the issue of how the bill itself is prepared. Consumers in Ontario are charged a delivery fee for their hydro, based on some formula that absolutely nobody is aware of. I asked around and of all the people that I asked, nobody knew how Toronto Hydro comes up with the delivery rate. When the government of Ontario sold off Ontario Hydro, there was a massive debt. Consumers in Ontario are now paying a debt reudction charge on every single bill. Now I could be wrong, but paying off the debt of a government agency is a TAX. For some reason, this particular fee is also taxed with HST (previously GST only). This means that we are currently paying 13% tax, on a tax. That is completely inane to me. Add to this the actual rising costs of hydro and things become even worse.
Ontario consumers are being gouged with increasing energy costs, unreasonable (and unfathomable) delivery charges on that energy, and tax on tax. This kind of thing has to stop or nobody in the province will be able to afford their basic hydro needs.
-------------------
See also this post on today's blog: http://mephie1.blogspot.com/2010/11/will-power-go-out-on-dalton-mcguinty.html
In particular this petition: http://www.unfairtaxgrab.com/home.html
Officals don't get it. The Internet is a powerful tool for people to communicate to each other, express their displeasure over issues, and be activists in their own right. The Liberals will pay the price for that.
------------------
Toronto Hydro and an Ongoing Dispute
I find it incredibly ridiculous that after 8 1/2 months, I actually have to post this online in an effort to get Toronto Hydro to actually respond to an issue that I discovered in January. Since the initial phone call in late January, I have been brushed off by Toronto Hydro in trying to settle a billing dispute and have had to take many steps to try and rectify the situation. At this point absolutely nothing has worked. By posting on my blog, on Facebook, and on Youtube, perhaps I can spur them into acting on my complaint.
In late January, we received our hydro bill for the November-December billing period. The bill is in my brother's name and we have both been trying to solve this since January. It was apparent right from that point that there was some kind of mistake as the consumption for the billing period was incredibly high, and the bill itself was almost 200.00 over our average bill. I immediately phoned Toronto Hydro and from that point on we were given excuse after excuse as to why the bill was so high. (Another point to note is that the next billing period went back down to our average consumption level. This also indicated to me that there was a problem.)
Here are the numbers. Our average consumption was anywhere between 1100 and 1300 kwh for the last 24 billing periods. For this period however the consumption was indicated as being 2176 kwh. That is more than a 60% increase over our average. Our highest consumption in the last 24 months was only 1657 kwh, when we had a another family member staying with us who worked shift work. The consumption indicated on the January bill was 30 % above that. So, 60 % above our average consumption, and over 30% above our highest ever consumption was an indication that there was something wrong. I was referred to the usage tracking website. That site was useless. It showed me the usage sure, but that was based on the information from the meter. I can't verify it, I don't read the meter, and it is not like I actually see the hydro as I consume it.
Right from the onset, we were given excuse after excuse as to why our bill was so high. We were told that we had had a smart meter installed in October, and that the bill could absolutely not be wrong. The several assumptions were made that had to be corrected right away.
First it was suggested that it was our actual energy provider that we had to deal with because Toronto Hydro had no clue as to what we were being charged. This is ridiculous. The way the system works in Toronto, is that if you are not a Toronto Hydro consumer you are FORCED to deal with them as they do the billing for your actual energy provider. To suggest that they have no idea what we were being charged is ridiculous. They prepare the bills.
Second we were told that it was because the billing period was for November and December and that the consumption rate was higher because our furnace would have been on during those two months. Immediately it was pointed out to them that our heat is provided by the landlord in our building, and that it on a separate meter and our landlord is responsible for that.
Finally, and this one absolutely kills me, it was suggested that during December we would have had a higher consumption because we would have been running Christmas lights. They automatically assumed that we are a) Christian, and b) would have been running Christmas lights. Our religion is absolutely none of their business, and to assume either of those two things is ludicrous. It was immediately made clear to Toronto Hydro that our religion is irrelevant, and we did NOT put up Christmas lights in December because two of the three members of our household were away for the last half of December.
Since then, we have been in contact with our actual energy provider and they proved to be quite useful. They sent us the usage data for the last 24 billing periods and were eager to assist with this matter. When Toronto Hydro was asked for usage details, what we received was ONLY the details for the billing period in question. That was absolutely useless to us. We already HAD the information for that period.
During the summer, after months of trying to get Toronto Hydro to respond to this issue we took the following steps. We contacted our MP, our MPP, Hydro One, The Ontario Energy Board, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and the Ombudsman for the Province of Ontario. We got only two responses back. The first was from the Ombudsman's office who indicated to us that this was outside their purview.
The second response was from our MPP, Peter Tabuns. His office attempted to assist us with this matter, but they were given the same response. The meter couldn't be wrong and the consumption was based on the smart meter reading. The indicated to our MPP's office that they would be in contact with us to try and resolve this issue. As of yet, we have heard absolutely nothing from Toronto Hydro.
There are several things that I have discovered as this situation has progressed. First, as I said before, consumers are FORCED to deal with Toronto Hydro. We have no choice. We cannot even argue any point regarding our bills because we don't read the meters or see the data. We simply have to take their word for it that the bill is correct. Well, I won't do that.
Second, I have discovered that contacting government agencies simply doesn't work. The agencies in place to assist consumers seem to be useless. I heard absolutely nothing from the Ministry, Hydro One, or the Ontario Energy Board.
Finally there is the issue of how the bill itself is prepared. Consumers in Ontario are charged a delivery fee for their hydro, based on some formula that absolutely nobody is aware of. I asked around and of all the people that I asked, nobody knew how Toronto Hydro comes up with the delivery rate. When the government of Ontario sold off Ontario Hydro, there was a massive debt. Consumers in Ontario are now paying a debt reudction charge on every single bill. Now I could be wrong, but paying off the debt of a government agency is a TAX. For some reason, this particular fee is also taxed with HST (previously GST only). This means that we are currently paying 13% tax, on a tax. That is completely inane to me. Add to this the actual rising costs of hydro and things become even worse.
Ontario consumers are being gouged with increasing energy costs, unreasonable (and unfathomable) delivery charges on that energy, and tax on tax. This kind of thing has to stop or nobody in the province will be able to afford their basic hydro needs.
-------------------
See also this post on today's blog: http://mephie1.blogspot.com/2010/11/will-power-go-out-on-dalton-mcguinty.html
In particular this petition: http://www.unfairtaxgrab.com/home.html
Officals don't get it. The Internet is a powerful tool for people to communicate to each other, express their displeasure over issues, and be activists in their own right. The Liberals will pay the price for that.
Prepare for the Counter Attack
I have received a copy of a confidential document that outlines a propaganda campaign to being soon that is designed to convince the public that high energy bills are worth it.
The document is called "Renewable Energy Matters -- Campaign Outline". It was prepared on the 18th of Oct. The draft I have is a politically toned down version of a previous document.
This is some of what that document says:
The Liberal Government is also likely behind this. It goes on:
That's you people at Wind Concerns Ontario.
This part is very interesting:
So there you have it. Be prepared for the con job of the century as these people try to convince the Ontario public that paying these high energy costs, losing your homes, getting cut off of power because you can't pay it, will all be worth it in the "big picture". How does it feel to be collateral damage?
Under the heading of Political and Policy Volatility this document acknowledges the costs of power are rising.
The concern of this document, and hence the thrust of the campaign, is that the perception by the public is that renweables are to blame for these increases in rates (which of course it is). This document goes out of its way, including contradicting the Manufacturers and Exporters Association study that claimed 65% of coming price increases will be because of the Green Energy Act, to try and convince the public of this "misperception". This PR campaign will be about changing that perception -- with misinformation of course.
The document is worried that the next government will kill much of the GEA, thus ending the gravy train. "This needs to be addressed immediately" was emphasized. They're worried the free ride on your back will end.
The emphasis of the document is the message of jobs, jobs, jobs, in the green energy sector.
Not all jobs are created equal. There are two broad categories of jobs. Wealth Creation Jobs and Non-wealth Creation Jobs. Wealth Creation Jobs are born in the private sector. They contribute to the wealth generation of the Province and country. Non-wealth Creation Jobs are necessary jobs, vital to run the economy, but they are paid for from the Wealth Creation Jobs in the form of taxes. Government jobs are Non-wealth Creation Jobs, and so too are all energy sector jobs. Energy consumption is not a wealth creation activity. It's the cost of doing business and running the economy. It consumes wealth not create it.
Thus there has to be more Wealth Creation Jobs than Non-wealth Creation Jobs to pay for those Non-wealth Creation Jobs. Renewable energy jobs actually are worse that just straight Non-wealth Creation Jobs. The experience in Spain and other EU countries is that for every renewables Non-wealth Creation Job created, 2.2 Wealth Creation Jobs are lost due to the high costs of energy intrinsic to renewable energy. So in effect, the GEA will kill more jobs than it creates, while at the same time putting the public into energy poverty.
There will be no punches held back in this coming PR campaign. This from their Core Messaging:
This will be a three week campaign, with points for each week set out in a tactical and strategic manner. The document sets out a goal of $300,000 of seed money from developers and manufacturers.
That is, the money you pay for your hydro will be funneled to run this campaign which will be an effort to make you feel good about paying your high bills.
The bottom line of this is simple. They just don't get it.
Expect a major push back against this campaign. This next year leading up to the next election is going to get messy. Expect to get your hands dirty. I will be doing my part to expose this fraud.
The document is called "Renewable Energy Matters -- Campaign Outline". It was prepared on the 18th of Oct. The draft I have is a politically toned down version of a previous document.
This is some of what that document says:
A number of renewable energy developers have come together to form a lose coalition of interests, to promote renewable energy policy in Ontario and support the agenda set as part of the Green Energy and Economy Act and the Feed-in Tariff program.
The Liberal Government is also likely behind this. It goes on:
This coalition will be joined by other groups, such as Environmental Defence and the GEA Alliance, as well as labour, economic development, health and environmental stake holders, to develop a common messaging, communications tools (ie. paid and earned media) and targeted local campaigns in areas where opposition to renewable power exists.
That's you people at Wind Concerns Ontario.
This part is very interesting:
In this, it will be critical to "confuse" the issue in the political/public/media away from just price to include key value attribute such as jobs, clean air, farm income, etc. Renewables cannot be defined by price alone.
So there you have it. Be prepared for the con job of the century as these people try to convince the Ontario public that paying these high energy costs, losing your homes, getting cut off of power because you can't pay it, will all be worth it in the "big picture". How does it feel to be collateral damage?
Under the heading of Political and Policy Volatility this document acknowledges the costs of power are rising.
Prices for contracted power are skyrocketing -- even though HOEP [The
hourly price] as decreased, the Global Adjustment has risen exponentially.
The concern of this document, and hence the thrust of the campaign, is that the perception by the public is that renweables are to blame for these increases in rates (which of course it is). This document goes out of its way, including contradicting the Manufacturers and Exporters Association study that claimed 65% of coming price increases will be because of the Green Energy Act, to try and convince the public of this "misperception". This PR campaign will be about changing that perception -- with misinformation of course.
The document is worried that the next government will kill much of the GEA, thus ending the gravy train. "This needs to be addressed immediately" was emphasized. They're worried the free ride on your back will end.
The emphasis of the document is the message of jobs, jobs, jobs, in the green energy sector.
DO NOT GET FOOLED BY THIS!
Not all jobs are created equal. There are two broad categories of jobs. Wealth Creation Jobs and Non-wealth Creation Jobs. Wealth Creation Jobs are born in the private sector. They contribute to the wealth generation of the Province and country. Non-wealth Creation Jobs are necessary jobs, vital to run the economy, but they are paid for from the Wealth Creation Jobs in the form of taxes. Government jobs are Non-wealth Creation Jobs, and so too are all energy sector jobs. Energy consumption is not a wealth creation activity. It's the cost of doing business and running the economy. It consumes wealth not create it.
Thus there has to be more Wealth Creation Jobs than Non-wealth Creation Jobs to pay for those Non-wealth Creation Jobs. Renewable energy jobs actually are worse that just straight Non-wealth Creation Jobs. The experience in Spain and other EU countries is that for every renewables Non-wealth Creation Job created, 2.2 Wealth Creation Jobs are lost due to the high costs of energy intrinsic to renewable energy. So in effect, the GEA will kill more jobs than it creates, while at the same time putting the public into energy poverty.
There will be no punches held back in this coming PR campaign. This from their Core Messaging:
Further research is also required post spike in bill fury, including focus
groups to colour, wording and emotional to craft effective targeted messages.
In order to talk past the "noisy activists" and editorial positions, there needs to be a coordinated paid, earned and social media campaign. This should be both reactive and proactive.
This will be a three week campaign, with points for each week set out in a tactical and strategic manner. The document sets out a goal of $300,000 of seed money from developers and manufacturers.
That is, the money you pay for your hydro will be funneled to run this campaign which will be an effort to make you feel good about paying your high bills.
The bottom line of this is simple. They just don't get it.
Expect a major push back against this campaign. This next year leading up to the next election is going to get messy. Expect to get your hands dirty. I will be doing my part to expose this fraud.
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