Has anyone ever had problems with their power companies?

My power was just shut off yesterday and the explaination was that I didn't pay off my bill. I got no notice whatsoever! We have put $100.00 on it every month for the last 3 and a half years, but for some reason this winter it got a little higher. We owed about $300.00 back in February. I did get a notcie that they were going to cut it off in the middle of the month, so I called them to see what I could do to make sure my hydro did not get cut off. (I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old) Well, they said if I paid as much as I can that week, they will not shut it off. So I did. I put $100 dollars on it the same day I would have paid for it anyways. I though it was strange that they were threatening to shut it off mid way through the month plus we had been paying $100 a month and hadn't missed a payment. We have never been delinquent either. But, I payed it like normal and went on with my life.

Then just yesterday this happens! So, I called the company. The first lady I spoke with told me that they had sent that bill back in February and that I was supposed to call them and let them know when I was going to make another payment. The money that was transfered to them should have been enough. So, I started to get very angry with them. I didn't get a notice that my power was going to be shut off yesturday.

So, the lady decided to transfer me to someone else (Go figure). Then that lady told me that I had gotten a notice in the mail this month. Well, unless the postal department lost it, I didn't recieve it. She couldn't handle my questions so she passed me off to someone else.

Then the next lady told me that I had a notice hand delivered to my door. Well, that comes at a surprise to me since I am a stay at home mom and I am here every day all day! So, nope no notice hand deliverd! Well, didn't that lady decide to pass me off to the manager!

So, I got talking to the manager. She said that I didn't get any notice except for the one that I got back in February. So, because thay gave me a notice at the beginning of the year, they are allowed to shut off my power whenever they want to? All the while everyone said that they would not turn on my power until I payed the $400 off. That day! I was not expecting this so of course, I didn't have any money. So, my kids and I were supposed to freeze because they decided to turn off my power without notifying me? Well, finally after a few shed tears and a lot of anger, she decided to turn it back on if I agreed to pay it all off by next Friday and if they didn't have their money by noon on the 30th, they would shut it off again.

So, anyone have any thoughts or ideas for me. I was thinking of calling my MP. This is rediculus. I guess because it is officially spring now, this hydro company thought it was ok to rob a family of their heat (even though it is still freezing outside!) I am so pissed!!!! Ya know, I could understand if maybe we missed 1, 2, or even three months worth of payments. But not missing any months? That's beyond me! Oh, and not once were they nice to me either! They were so rude. They treated me like I was a delinquent person! As if I had missed 6 months worth of payments!

so, I guess I better come up with the money or my family is going to freeze!

I'm a little confused. Do you not get a bill from them at a regular interval (I believe ours is 2 months), which you are required to pay in full to maintain your service?

You didn't miss any months in paying your bill?

But you haven't been paying the bill in full either?

While I can understand it being a hardship for the bill to be higher in the past few months, not paying the whole bill is the same as not paying it at all to a lot of companies.
Think of it like groceries.

For 3 1/2 years $60 has bought you a lot of groceries. But, now groceries are more expensive so you should be paying $75 for those same groceries. But you can't afford it, so you are getting the same amount of groceries (now $75 worth) but you are only paying $60. How is that fair to the company?

If I'm not mistaken you said you owed about $300 in February and then paid $100. This would leave you owing $200 in February and whatever the March bill would be. Unfortunately, because you were in arrears the company is within their rights in cutting off your power

I see what you guys are getting at.

Our bill is usually only about $60.00 most of the year, except for in the winter, so therefore, the $100.00 we put on every month is over the amount we owe in the summer, then by winter, our credits get used for the more expensive bills. So, if you think of it with groceries, we buy $60.00 worth of groceries for $100.00 a month for say 8 months ($480/$800) and then when the groceries cost us $150.00 for the next 4 months and we are still paying $100.00 ($600/$400) then by the years end we have spent $1200 for $1080 worth of groceries. So, therefore if my bill is a little more than just that $150 in the winter, the extra $120 covers it. I hope I didn't confuse anyone.

Yes, we get our bills at regular intervals, once a month. We have been doing the same thing year after year for the last 3 1/2 years. They have never said anything about us not getting it paid off fully if we only payed $100, and the bill was for $200, and so on. I'm just wondering why now? Why just shut off my power without a warning or notice?

I can understand if I was delinquent and had troubles paying my bill frequently during the year, then yes, by all means shut off my power. but when I have been a great customer all these years?

About chdudes inquiry about it being paid in full, it doesn't state that on our bills nor have we ever been told that. Like I said before, every month we put at least $100 on it.

If the company wanted it paid in full or else we wouldn't get our services, then shouldn't we be told that? I mean, three years and we have many times not paid it in full, but at the same time have actually put money on it.

I hope some of this clearifies things.

Originally posted by Fossil If I'm not mistaken you said you owed about $300 in February and then paid $100. This would leave you owing $200 in February and whatever the March bill would be. Unfortunately, because you were in arrears the company is within their rights in cutting off your power

Without a notice?
They didn't even give me a chance to make it right. I didn't even know the day they were going to do it. I was in the middle of burning a Cd and lost that one cause I was not expecting the power to go out at that moment. I didn't know I was in arrears, like I said before, we have been in a situation before in the winter where we didn't pay off the whole bill, but did put some money on it. Our power was not shut off then.

All I know is that the power company doesn't mess around, that is why I'm sure to always pay them straight away. I remember when i was still living with my dad he got a bit behind and they just shut us off too with no way of coming up with the money to get re-connected right away. It's also true that their customer service people have no sympathy, I spent a lot of time on the phone with them trying to get us connected again. I find that other companies like cable, phone, internet and so on are a bit more easy going but Hydro companies don't kid around. No matter how good of customer you've been all those years you've been with them. I'm also not overly happy with my cable company right now too, they just sent out a letter informing their customers that they have to raise the cost by yet another $1.50, I swear they do that at least once a year. But alas, I need power and cable so I'll just have to keep on paying. Sigh.

I'm starting to realize that too j_star07. They certainly were not very kind to me on the phone.

So, I have learned my lesson, either I pay up front, and not over pay in the summer, or I just leave to another hydro company. We had such a good thing going though all these years.

Originally posted by jbarlow Yes, we get our bills at regular intervals, once a month. We have been doing the same thing year after year for the last 3 1/2 years. They have never said anything about us not getting it paid off fully if we only payed $100, and the bill was for $200, and so on. I'm just wondering why now? Why just shut off my power without a warning or notice?

If you receive bills monthly, then would not the last bill you received have shown that you were in arrears by a certain amount? I also expect that if you read the fine print on your bill or read over the terms of service (generally available on the company's website), that when they bill you, you are obligated to pay in full for the services you receive - else you risk the company terminating these services to you, without warning. I would also expect that as with most services, you are liable for what you owe even if you do not receive your normal monthly bill.

Here's an excerpt from the Terms of Service from our Hydro provider:

Immediately following the due date, steps will be taken to collect the full amount of the bill. Fourteen days following the due date, a final notice will be mailed to the account holder. If the bill is still unpaid seven calendar days after the final notice has been issued, a collection letter will be hand delivered to the service location giving 48 hours notice for disconnection of service for non-payment. The service may be disconnected at anytime during the year, and not restored until satisfactory payment arrangements have been made, including costs of reconnection and payment of the appropriate security deposit as outline in Section 2.4.3. A reconnect fee will apply.

You've been generous in overpaying, it's certainly not anything I'd consciously do. Anytime you are in arrears, you owe them money and they can take the steps outlined in their own terms of service in order to collect full payment or disconnect at their leisure "at anytime during the year". Unfortunately they are running a business, and in general gone are the days where you can get buddy-buddy with a service provider.

Be HAPPY.. our monthly power bill we recieved yesterday was $352.00 for 1 month. (No arrears)
..And thats normal for us in the winter...

If you are able to spend extra on your Hydro in the summer have you given any thought to pro-rating it through the year? I know in B.C. you can pro-rate it and therefore pay approximately the same amount every month through the year. Maybe give your company a call and see if they offer anything like that. Might make the winter a little less harsh for you and the little un's! And Babysitter, OUCH! That is one nasty hydro bill! Good luck with that!

Originally posted by jbarlow I see what you guys are getting at. Our bill is usually only about $60.00 most of the year, except for in the winter, so therefore, the $100.00 we put on every month is over the amount we owe in the summer, then by winter, our credits get used for the more expensive bills. So, if you think of it with groceries, we buy $60.00 worth of groceries for $100.00 a month for say 8 months ($480/$800) and then when the groceries cost us $150.00 for the next 4 months and we are still paying $100.00 ($600/$400) then by the years end we have spent $1200 for $1080 worth of groceries. So, therefore if my bill is a little more than just that $150 in the winter, the extra $120 covers it. I hope I didn't confuse anyone.

Have you looked closely at your bill? Your credits were most likely applied to the following bill, not adding all up for the winter bills. If you had a credit with the company they would not be shutting you off.

My mother pays an estimated bill each month. What the bill says is estimated. Once a year (May) They read the meter (She's in a hard to get to location) they subtract what she actually used from what she paid for (the actual amounts that the bills told her she owed) and they end up crediting her a month and a half to two or even three months. She does not pay anything over and above what the bills say to pay, she pays the amount on the bill.

Originally posted by jbarlow If the company wanted it paid in full or else we wouldn't get our services, then shouldn't we be told that? I mean, three years and we have many times not paid it in full, but at the same time have actually put money on it.

Are you enrolled in the Budget Billing Plan (formerly referred to as the payment plan)? Are you with Hydro one?

Originally posted by Nemo If you are able to spend extra on your Hydro in the summer have you given any thought to pro-rating it through the year? I know in B.C. you can pro-rate it and therefore pay approximately the same amount every month through the year. Maybe give your company a call and see if they offer anything like that. Might make the winter a little less harsh for you and the little un's! And Babysitter, OUCH! That is one nasty hydro bill! Good luck with that!

That's fairly similar to a lot of peoples bills When you are heating in -20 degree weather for a couple of months it adds up.

I will definitely go and read the fine print now. It's just crazy that for the last three years it has always been the same, no problems and now this. I said before, we got a notice in February (the 16th) that our power was going to be shut off(on the 18th), I called and it was delt with and paid for. Then this month, it actually got shut off yesterday. No notice. No written, mailed, hand delivered, or called notice. So, I will see what it says in the fine print. If it says they can shut it off without any prior notice, then I will be speaking with out PM about this and also be switching companies.

No, we are not with hydro one, westario actually.

chdude, our bills state "prevous balance owing", not "arears".

So, this is what I found:

A disconnection notice will be issued in writing not less than seven days after the date specified on the bill as the due date. Notice must be given by hand delivery or by registered mail. Both the customer and tenants of the customer will receive seven days’ notice before disconnection. • Prior to the disconnection of the electricity service, a representative of the utility will make reasonable efforts to establish direct contact with the customer. The utility should also where possible, notify the occupants of each separately occupied unit in the premises. The electricity service will not be disconnected by reason of the non-payment of bills until seven days after a disconnection notice has been given to the customer and as set out in Chapter 9 of the Distribution Rate Handbook. • Where the electricity service has been disconnected on order to collect the account and then reconnected, a reconnection of service charge may be applied to the customers account.

So, am I wrong to assume that it was wrong for them to cut off my power without contacting me first? Also I want to point out that I did not get any registered mail or any hand delivery of my notice back in February. It was sent by regular mail.


I just think something is fishy here at this power company.