XPost: uk.people.consumers, alt.consumers.experiences, alt.consumers
XPost: misc.consumers
From: tsanford@nf.sympatico.ca
bluecalx wrote:
>
> On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 21:43:50 +0100, "Dudley"
> wrote:
>
> >> My big question is:
> >>
> >> Is it standard electric company procedure to suddenly revise 9 months
> >> worth of bills and demand like this? Any advice would be greatly
> >> appreciated!
> >>
> >
> >It is standard in the UK energy market for bills to be estimated and this
> >can go on for up to 7 quarters worth of bills with the eighth one being an
> >actual reading. Energy companies only have to do a reading once every 2
> >years, however the majority of them do do them more often, like once a
year.
>
> Really? Wow. That's ridiculous. I don't want to be one of those
> Americans who's always pointing out, "that's not how we do things back
> in America!" but checking every 1-2 years is just awful. In all of my
> previous apartments, I've gotten an electricity bill each month, paid
> that amount and that was the last I heard about it. There wasn't any
> sudden, "Thanks for paying the last 9 months of bills. Now please pay
> them all over again." Oh well. Live and learn, I guess.
>
> Also, just out of curiosity.. what happens if I move into a flat and
> stay for a year, then leave before the electric company checks the
> meter? Does the next tenant get stuck with my actual electricity
> bills when the company finally checks the meter?
Regarding moving:
The few times in the last 40 years we have moved premises I wrote
to the power and telephone companies (I think I registered the
letters in one case) telling them the dates and times that we
would vacating the old and entering the new premises and
identifying that we would not be responsible for any charges/cost
outside of those. Maybe a bit overcautious; but after that it's
up to those companies to take appropriate actions; no?
And about the "We do it better over here" aspect!!!! From a
Canadian perspective! :-)
And again with apologies for cross posting and the length of
this;
You must be kidding about reading electricity meters at intervals
of one or two years! Figuratively that would, I think, get
'laughed out of court' in the public mind here. And the chances
of the power company getting paid after letting a bill go unpaid
for so long wouldn't get much sympathy!
Legally the company might, eventually, get its money but there
would be one heck of a public outcry; e.g. "Light and Power
Company Forgets to bill customer for year and a half ..... etc.";
especially if it was a pensioner who perhaps does not understand
how to read a meter themselves and hasn't got much source of
income.
In fact there is a provision I believe whereby one can contribute
voluntarily a few cents a month to a fund to take care of certain
cases of electrical need for low income users.
We are on the North Eastern edge of Canada, our local electricity
supplier is a private monopoly (at least at the moment) so that
keeps them up to scratch! Any complaints and the 'Public
Utilities Regulatory Commission' gets after them.
Our typical experience is; meters normally read monthly; however
during winter and more occasionally during the summer they may
skip a month, due to snow (meters are on the outside of the
premises and sometimes not in front where pathways are cleared
for access) also perhaps when staff on summer vacations.
There is also a scheme whereby one can read the meter oneself and
phone it in; might be useful for summer home/cabin owners but I
doubt many are using it! have heard nothing, yet, about remote
meter reading, the meters are the old style with dials. Seem very
accurate?
When meter is not read monthly the amount billed for that month
is 'averaged/estimated' based on previous readings. A monthly
bill is always issued and can be paid in several ways. Since it
unusual for monthly consumption to vary that greatly and the
meter reading is cumulative anyway it seems to work fine.
If it is a bad winter the power company will often make a public
radio/TV announcement and/or newspaper advert advising "That
customers may notice etc. ....", it isn't an apology exactly but
it does come across as a "Bear with us due to the weather
situation .... ". They also ask homeowners to provide access to
the meter location.
Since we are all out shovelling and snow blowing and driving on
icy roads we understand.
The power crews are excellent btw; they are well equipped and do
heroic work, sometimes in very poor conditions, providing very
good service. On average our electricity, including monthly
billing charge and sales taxes is about 8.5 cents Can. per
unit/kilowatt hour. That's roughly 3.7 pence per unit. There are
no night-time cheap rates, AFIK; certainly not domestically.
It is also possible to be on a 'Budget Plan' which is
automatically adjusted annually.
This can be advantageous or not; sometimes one is 'In credit'
sometimes 'In debit'. For example due to the last 'heavy' winter
we have a backlog of unpaid electricity amounting to about $900;
this July 1st this will be divided by 12, to be paid by month
over the next year, without additional interest charges btw. Also
since our consumption was obviously underestimated the monthly
budget amount will be increased to reflect that. So for example
if we are careful about consumption etc. we may, by say February,
again be in a credit situation.
I can then, if I wish phone the power company and ask that the
monthly budget amount be decreased. Certainly most of the time
one just glances at the bill, which is being paid by automatic
deduction, notes the amount of kilowatts used and files it away.
But monthly billing, which is the norm for just about everything
allows one to 'keep tabs' on ones budget. You can get through to
the power company; and talk to a real live person if you need to
go beyond the 'numbers' and they are knowledgeable, polite and
helpful (No. I don't have any connection with them, just a
customer. I don't even own any shares!)
There was a big increase in electricity rates in Ontario in
2001/2, due to privatization. It became a hot political issue and
the Ontario government enacted legislation to reduce rates to 4.5
cents (roughly two pence) per unit, don't know if that includes
taxes etc.? and also gave rebate cheques to domestic users
averaging $130. While Ontario residents often have natural gas,
for heating/cooking, which we do not, not sure what percentage of
a reduction that was. It is noticeable that we, in
Newfoundland-Labrador where much of the power is generated are
paying considerably more for electricity than Ontario which
indirectly gets that power purchasing it from Quebec Hydro!
[continued in next message]
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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