Category: News and views

SGC Admin: The following is taken from the notice provided in the Whitby This Week Newspaper January 23 2013 Edition. 

In short, Whitby Hydro Electric Corporation has applied to the Ontario Energy Board for a rate increase in the energy delivery charges on our hydro bill. The application, if approved would allow an (average) increase of $1.85 per month for a period of 20 months for residential customers and $15.02 (on monthly bill of less than 50kw) for a General Service customer for a period of 20 months.

A $1.85 each month for 20 months doesn’t sound like a lot, and even when you add the dreaded HST on to it, which we know will be tacked on only brings it up to $2:09 each month, times that by 20 and you get a grand total of $41.80 for 20 months.

However, those who choose to provide us with services that we need for our basic survival (Such as Whitby Hydro) have to be accountable for what they provide and how they provide it if the consumer is paying for it. Which includes having all costs upfront for any large project implemented by such services without the majority approval of the consumers who are going to be affected.

If you are opposed to the increase you may send in your comments no later than “30 days after the publication or service date of this notice” Which I am assuming means 30 days from January 23 2013 the publication date of  Whitby This Week?  

 

The notice in the WTW paper states the following… 

Whitby Hydro Electric Corporation (“Whitby Hydro”) has applied to the Ontario Energy Board for permission to change its delivery charges beginning may 1 2013 to reflect the recovery of costs for deployed smart meters. The application was filed on December 27 2012 under section 78 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 15 (Schedule B), under the Board’s Guideline G-2011-0001: Smart Meter Funding and Cost Recover – Final Disposition. 

For additional information on billing items visit the Consumer page of the Board’s website at www.ontarioenergyboard.ca 

The Board has assigned the application File No. EB-2012-0479. The board’s decision on this application may have an effect on Whitby Hydro Electric Corporation’s metered customers. 

To see a copy of the application, go to the Consumer page of the Board’s website and enter the case number EB-2012-0479 in the “Find an Application” box. A copy can also be seen at the Board’s office and at the applicant’s office at the addresses indicated below, or on the applicant’s website www.whitbyhydro.on.ca

Written Hearing: The board intends to proceed with this matter by way of a written hearing unless a party satisfies the Board that there is a good reason for holding an oral hearing. If you object to a written hearing, you must provide written reasons why you believe an oral hearing is necessary. Any submissions objecting to a written hearing must be received by the Board and copied to the applicant within 10 days of the publication or service date of this notice. 

How to Participate: Comment: If you wish to give your opinion on the proceeding to the board members hearing the application, you are invited to send a written letter of comment to the board no later then 30 days after the publication or service date of this notice. A complete copy of your letter of comment, including your name, contact information and the content of the letter will be provided to the applicant and the hearing panel. 

Observers: If you do not wish to actively participate in the proceeding but you do wish to receive documents issued by the Board, you may request observer status, Your written request must be received by the board no later than 10 days from the publication or service date of this notice. 

(Please Note) Personal Information in Letters of Comment and Observer Requests: All letters of comment or letters requesting observer status will be placed on the public record, which means that the letters can be seen at the Board’s office and will be available on the Board’s website. Before Placing the letters on the public record, the Board will remove any personal contact information, however the name of the individual and content of the letter will become part of the public record. 

Mail your comments to the following address, please make sure you quote the File Number and attention your letter to the Board Secretary. 

Ontario Energy Board:  P.O Box 2319: 27th Floor Yonge Street: Toronto, On M4P 1E4: File Number EB-2012-0479

You can also email: boardsec@ontarioenergyboard.ca

You can fax to: 416 440 7656

You can phone: 1 888 632 6273    

Part of my letter is below.  If you would like to use all or any of my comments,  please feel free to copy and paste into your own letter.                                                                                                                                         

Dear Board Secretary:

Re: Whitby Hydro Electric Corporation (Whitby Hydro) application to change its delivery charges beginning May 1 2013.

Please take note we are opposed to such delivery charge changes being implemented at this time and in the foreseeable future. 

It is our opinion that the concept of the “smart meters” has been in error from the beginning. The implementation of these meters is likely negatively affecting those who do not work outside the home.

 For example, stay at home parents, retired people, seniors and shift workers must now co-ordinate their chores such as running the dishwasher, vacuuming, baking, cooking, and using the dryer to be done during the hours of 7pm to 7am and on weekends/holidays if they wish to be prudent and keep their energy costs down. In essence Whitby Hydro by way of the “Smart Meter” is now dictating when one should do the above chores! 

The general population is still paying down the huge debt left by Ontario Hydro; I see no reason why we should now be paying for a system that has been implemented against our wishes?

 The projected and total cost of the Smart Meters, including all installations and incidentals should have been on paper and presented to the necessary parties involved before the go ahead was given for the project. It is not the fault of the residents that the cost is more than anticipated and therefore it is not the responsibility of the residence to pay the added cost. You can’t put a price on a product or service and then ask for more money after the product has been purchased or the service performed

If the increase is approved, then what is to stop other costs being passed onto the consumer simply because of bad management in the finance department? This does not encourage those in the position of making such decisions to be accountable for the decisions they make.

The constant digging into the pocket of the consumer for errors in judgement made by others should be illegal as should the implementation of HST on services/products needed for our survival.

We therefore do not approve the reason behind the proposed increase to our Hydro Bill.