Hydro One Electricity Bills. Summer 2010

Transcription

1 Hydr One Electricity Bills Summer 2010

2 Agenda Explanatin f Bills Reasns fr High Bills Tax Exemptin Cntact Infrmatin 1.

3 Explanatin f Bills

4 Page 1 f the Bill Balance Infrmatin: Balance Frward Budget Billing Amunt (if applicable) Autmatic Payments (if applicable) Ttal Amunt Due Payment required by this date Cmparisn Chart: Details the average electricity used per day based n an actual r estimated read. Once smart meters begin cmmunicating with Hydr One s billing system, this chart will shw actual readings.

5 Page 2 f the Bill Electricity Cnsumptin: Includes the meter reading (in kwh), the date Hydr One read the meter, and whether the bill is based n an actual meter reading r an estimate. Electricity Rates: Electricity Prices are set by the Ontari Energy Bard. Ttal Charges: Ttal electricity charges are cmprised f: Electricity charges, Delivery charges, Regulatry charges, Debit Retirement Charge, and taxes.

6 D Yu Have a High Bill?

7 Cmmn Reasns fr High Bills 1. Usage Increase 2. Recnciliatin Bills a. Budget Billing b. Estimated vs. Actual Readings c. Changed Meter 3. Past Due Balance 4. Security Depsits 5. Time-Of-Use Pricing 6. Electricity Rate Increases

8 Pssibility # 1: Usage Increase

9 Usage Increase Cmmn reasns fr increased usage, and therefre higher electricity bills, include: Increased number f peple in husehld Clder and lnger winters (mre heating) New appliances r electrnic devices Htter and lnger summers (mre air cnditining) Slightly lnger billing perid than usual

10 Pssibility # 2: Recnciliatin Bills a. Budget billing b. Estimated readings c. Changed meters

11 a. Budget Billing Budget Billing (BB) establishes a payment amunt based n yur cnsumptin histry and usage pattern, allwing yu t make equal mnthly payments. The balance in yur payment plan is reflected n yur mnthly bill. Hydr One s system will autmatically review yur BB amunt every 6 and 9 mnths and will adjust yur BB amunt based n yur actual energy cnsumptin. After 12 mnths, Hydr One adjusts yur accunt based n yur actual energy cnsumptin. Yu are then credited fr any verpayment OR charged fr the balance wing.

12 b. Estimated vs. Actual Readings Althugh yu have a Smart Meter, yur meter is nt yet cmmunicating autmatically with Hydr One. Therefre, yur meter is still scheduled t be read every 3 mnths. Please make sure yur meter is accessible t Hydr One Meter Readers If yur meter is nt read by a Meter Reader, then the Hydr One Billing System will calculate an estimate reading based n yur usage patterns. The Cmparisn Chart n each bill will indicate yur reading as either Actual r Estimate.

13 Estimated vs. Actual Readings Reasns fr High Actual Bills: Yur cnsumptin may have increased, r Yur estimates were t lw. Reasns fr High Estimate Bills: Yur cnsumptin may have decreased and yur estimates are reflecting yur previusly higher usage patterns. If yu wuld like t ensure that yur billing is based n actual cnsumptin, yu can read yur wn meter and submit yur reading by calling ur Custmer Cmmunicatin Center r by lgging nt the My Accunt Self Service website.

14 Reading Yur Meter T determine when t prvide a meter reading: a. Call ur Custmer Cmmunicatin Centre b. Use the schedule prvided n ur Website based n yur Bill Grup (prvided at the tp f yur bill n Page 1, next t yur accunt #) Digital Meter Simply read the display frm left t right

15 c. Changed Meter A meter change can be due t: a) smart meter installatin b) meter verificatin prgram This may create a high bill if the meter is changed utside a regular reading cycle, causing a recnciliatin f usage sner than wuld nrmally ccur.

16 Pssibility # 3: Past Due Balance

17 Payment Due Dates Yur payment is due when yur bill is issued. Hydr One allws 21 days t receive yur payment befre a late payment charge is applied. Please allw at least 5 business days fr payment prcessing. If payments are nt made in full, r are received after the date shwn n yur current bill, a late payment charge will be applied t yur next bill. The late payment charge is 1.5% per mnth n the utstanding balance

18 Payment Optins Yu have several ptins fr paying yur Hydr One bill. 1. Pre-Authrized Payments 2. Pay at Yur Financial Institutin 3. Online Banking with Yur Financial Institutin 4. Cheque by Mail E-Billing: Cnveniently receive bills nline

19 Pssibility # 4: Security Depsits

20 Security Depsits T avid having a security depsit applied t yur accunt, yu must maintain a gd payment histry. Gd Payment Histry is defined as fllws: N mre than ne returned cheque r pre-authrized payment due t insufficient funds, nt due t Hydr One errr N mre than ne Discnnect Ntice Letter (after July 29, 2004), nt due t Hydr One errr N Cut Out Fr Nn Pay r Discnnect Trips, nt due t Hydr One errr A gd payment histry must be attained fr: ONE year fr residential custmer FIVE years fr nn-residential custmers with less than <50kW demand SEVEN years fr nn-residential custmers with equal t r greater than >50kW demand

21 Calculatin f Security Depsits If a security depsit is required, it is calculated as 2.5 times the custmer s average bill fr mnthly-billed custmers. Fr bi-mnthly r quarterly-billed custmers, the average bill is multiplied by 1.75 r 1.5, respectively. Fr Custmers wh have received tw r mre discnnectin ntices in a 12-mnth perid, the depsit will be calculated n the highest actual r estimated bill.

22 Pssibility # 5: Time-f-Use Pricing

23 Time-f-Use Rates Under nrmal cnditins, all meter reads will be ACTUAL (as ppsed t estimates), prviding a mre accurate bill. Time-f-Use prices are electricity prices that vary based n the time f day, day f week (weekday r weekends), and by seasn (winter r summer) and mre clsely reflect the cst t prduce electricity at these times. Advantages: Energy management and cnservatin Helps reduce the strain n the electricity system

24 Time-f-Use TOU Perids: Current TOU prices as set by the OEB are: - On-Peak = 9.9 cents per kwh - Mid-Peak = 8.0 cents per kwh - Off-Peak = 5.3 cents per kwh

25 Managing Yur Usage Reasns fr High Bills: High electricity usage during n-peak hurs. Tips t Save Energy: Manage yur electricity usage and csts by shifting energy intensive activities t ff-peak hurs when pssible. Speak with ur trained Energy Cnservatin Agents t gain valuable energy saving tips. Lgin nt Hydr One s My Accunt Self Service Website. Visit

26 Pssibility # 6: Electricity Rate Increases

27 Electricity Rates Custmers pay the Regulated Price Plan (RPP) fr electricity they use. These prices are set by the Ontari Energy Bard and may change twice a year in May and Nvember. RPP prices apply t residential and small business custmers wh use under 250,000 kwh per year and wh buy their electricity thrugh a utility. The electricity pricing plan is designed t help custmers manage their electricity csts while als reflecting the prices paid t generatrs.

28 Electricity Rates Currently, the price f electricity fr residential custmers is: 6.5 cents per kwh fr the first 600 kwh used per mnth 7.5 cents per kwh fr each additinal kwh used per mnth Fr mre infrmatin g t and click n Find Rates and Prices.

29 Tax Exemptins

30 DRC and HST What is the Debt Retirement Charge? The Debt Retirement Charge is used t pay ff the residual stranded debt f the frmer Ontari Hydr. Wh is eligible fr DRC exemptin? Custmers wh are Status Indians and Indian Bands purchasing electricity cnsumed n a Reserve r certain individuals in the diplmatic cmmunity are exempt frm paying the DRC. Wh is eligible fr HST exemptin? First Natins peple living n a reserve, Prvincial gvernment ffices, band empwered schls, hspitals r scial service entities

31 New HST Fr Status Indians living n a reserve: Starting July 1, 2010, yu will be exempt frm the 13% HST n electricity that is used n a reserve. If yu are currently GST exempt, yu will autmatically be exempt frm paying HST n yur electricity bill. Fr Status Indians living ff a reserve: Yu will be billed the 13% HST n yur electricity bills until August 31, Effective September 1, 2010, yu will be eligible fr an exemptin frm the 8% prvincial prtin f the HST. Exemptin frm the 5% federal prtin f the HST is nly fr electricity used n a reserve. Refunds fr the 8% prvincial prtin frm July 1 st t August 31 st can be received by submitting cpies f yur electricity bills t the Ministry f Revenue.

32 HST and DRC Exemptins Hw d I get my accunt HST and DRC exempt? Hydr One requires yur Certificate f Indian Status card number. Residential custmers are required t prvide their Status card number by phne r each time they mve int a prperty. Cmmercial custmers must prvide their Status card number by fax. It is the custmer s respnsibility t prvide Hydr One with their Status card number. Status card numbers less than 9 r 10 digits will nt be accepted. The Band number is als required fr exemptin n accunts identified as band cuncils, and band-empwered entities cnsuming electricity n a reserve.

33 HST and DRC Exemptins If HST/DRC is being charged n yur bill: Please cntact ur Custmer Cmmunicatin Centre with yur Certificate f Indian Status card number. Hydr One will apply a credit t yur accunt fr any GST r HST charged within the current calendar year. Fr any GST charges applied prir t January 1, 2010, yu need t file fr the refund when yu submit yur Incme tax return fr the current year. Hydr One will apply a credit t yur accunt fr any DRC charged, up t a maximum f fur years, depending n the GST exemptin date.

34 Imprtant Cntact Infrmatin Custmer Cmmunicatin Center Telephne: Mnday t Friday 7:30 am t 8:00 pm. Fax: CustmerCmmunicatins@HydrOne.cm Mailing Address: PO BOX 5700, Markham, Ontari L6G 1B7 Ontari Energy Bard: Telephne: Mnday t Friday 8:30 a.m. t 5:00 pm. Ministry f Revenue: Telephne: Mnday t Friday 8:30 a.m. t 5:00 p.m.

35 Questins?

36 BACK UP: Electricity Retail Cntracts

37 Electricity Retail Cntracts Retailer Optins: Custmers may chse t purchase electricity frm retailers rather than pay Regulated Price Plan rates with Hydr One. Reasns fr High Bills: If custmers buy frm an electricity retailer, the Prvincial Benefit is nt included in the cntract price ffered by the retailer (Prvincial Benefit is displayed as a separate line item n bills). The electricity rate stated in the cntract is usually fixed fr a number f years but may change depending n the terms f the cntract. Many cntracts with Retailers have penalties shuld yu decide t pt ut early.

38 Electricity Retail Cntracts Retailer Tips: Check t ensure the retailer is licensed by the OEB t sell electricity. Read the cntract carefully befre signing t be aware f all f the terms and cnditins. Hydr One is nt affiliated in any way with electricity retailers. If it is nt yur intent t sign the retailer s cntract, d nt prvide them with yur Hydr One accunt number r shw them a cpy f yur bill. Ask the retailer questins if anything is unclear!

39 Retailer Cde f Cnduct Electricity retailers must: Prvide the name f the retailer and the sales agent State that the retailer is nt the custmer s lcal utility Prvide truthful infrmatin withut misleading the custmer Prvide infrmatin that is cnsistent with the terms f the cntract being ffered Allw sufficient time t read all dcuments withut pressuring the custmer State the term f the cntract and price per kwh f electricity Offer a cntract that has a term f less than five years Prvide yu with a written cpy f the cntract within 40 days f signing