Hydr One Winter 2011
Billing
Hw t read yur bill Page 1 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 fr custmers wh are nt yet n Time f Use (TOU) 3 billing.
Hw t read yur bill Page 2 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. 4
Cmmn Reasns fr High Bills 1. Usage Increase 2. Recnciliatin Bills Budget Billing Estimated vs. Actual Readings Changed Meter 3. Past Due Balance 4. Tax Exemptins 5. Electricity Rate Increases discussed in Pricing sectin 5
#1 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 6
#2 Recnciliatin Bills 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. 7
Recnciliatin Bills Estimated vs. Actual Readings Althugh yu have a Smart Meter, yur meter likely is nt yet cmmunicating autmatically with Hydr One. Therefre, yur meter is still scheduled t be manually 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. 8
Recnciliatin Bills Estimated vs. Actual Readings cntinued 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 centre r by lgging nt the My Accunt Self Service website. 9
Recnciliatin Bills Meter changes 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. 10
#3 Past due balances Yur payment is due when yur bill is issued. Hydr One allws 19 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 11
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 12
#4 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? Status Indians living n a reserve, Prvincial gvernment ffices, band empwered schls, hspitals r scial service entities 13
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 email 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. 14
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 Federal 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. 15
Reading Yur Meter - If it is nt autmatically being read 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 centre r by lgging nt the My Accunt Self Service website. 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 #) 16
When t read yur meter- example Bill grup 3 August September First Day Bill Grup Cutff Date First Day Bill Grup Cutff Date Available Available 7/2/2010 5 7/7/2010 8/3/2010 5 8/6/2010 7/5/2010 6 7/8/2010 8/4/2010 6 8/9/2010 7/6/2010 7 7/9/2010 8/5/2010 7 8/10/2010 7/7/2010 0 7/12/2010 8/6/2010 8 8/11/2010 7/8/2010 8 7/13/2010 8/9/2010 9 8/12/2010 7/9/2010 9 7/14/2010 8/10/2010 10 8/13/2010 7/12/2010 10 7/15/2010 8/11/2010 11 8/16/2010 7/13/2010 11 7/16/2010 8/12/2010 12 8/17/2010 7/14/2010 12 7/19/2010 8/13/2010 13 8/18/2010 7/15/2010 13 7/20/2010 8/16/2010 14 8/19/2010 7/16/2010 14 7/21/2010 8/17/2010 15 8/20/2010 7/19/2010 15 7/22/2010 8/18/2010 16 8/23/2010 7/20/2010 16 7/23/2010 8/19/2010 17 8/24/2010 7/21/2010 17 7/26/2010 8/20/2010 18 8/25/2010 7/22/2010 18 7/27/2010 8/23/2010 19 8/26/2010 7/23/2010 19 7/28/2010 8/24/2010 0 8/27/2010 7/26/2010 20 7/29/2010 8/25/2010 20 8/30/2010 7/27/2010 1 7/30/2010 8/26/2010 1 8/31/2010 7/28/2010 2 8/3/2010 8/27/2010 2 9/1/2010 7/29/2010 3 8/4/2010 8/30/2010 3 9/2/2010 7/30/2010 4 8/5/2010 8/31/2010 4 9/3/2010 Fr Aug readings they need t be prvided between July 29 and Aug 4 Fr Sept readings they need t be prvided between Aug 30 and Sept 2 17
Hw t read Yur Meter Reading a digital meter is easy. Simply read the meter like yu wuld an dmeter n a car read the numbers frm left t right. Yur kwh reading will be displayed fr fur secnds fllwed by a ne secnd display f 88888. This will be cntinuus. Display where reading shws 18
Electricity Retail Cntracts Custmers may chse t purchase electricity frm Retailers rather than pay Regulated Price Plan rates with Hydr One. 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. 19
Electricity Retail Cntracts Retailer Tips: Check t ensure the retailer is licensed by the Ontari Energy Bard 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 any 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! 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 at 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. If a custmer s hydr accunt was charged a security depsit, Hydr One can help. A custmer service agent can ffer up t six mnths extensin t pay ff a depsit, in equal mnthly installments. 22
Payment Agreements Residential Custmers When in need, Hydr One ffers custmers an pprtunity t pay their hydr balance ff thrugh a Payment Agreement Whether a current r verdue bill, Hydr One can ffer a custmer a payment agreement fr either 5 r 10 mnthly installments depending n the amunt f the arrears wing. If a custmer misses 2 installments within the payment agreement, the agreement is cnsidered defaulted and cllectins activities resume up t and in including discnnectin f service. There are n extensins permitted fr defaulted payment agreements and custmers wuld nt be eligible fr anther payment arrangement fr a minimum f 2 years. Hydr One is making every effrt t reach a reasnable utcme fr ur custmers while adhering t the Ontari Energy Bard s established rules. 23
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 www.pwersaver.ca 24
Imprtant Cntact Infrmatin Custmer Cmmunicatin centre Telephne: 1-888-664-9376 Mnday t Friday 7:30 am t 8:00 pm. Fax: 905-944-3251 Email: CustmerCmmunicatins@HydrOne.cm Mailing Address: PO BOX 5700, Markham, Ontari L6G 1B7 Ontari Energy Bard: Telephne: 1-877-632-2727 Mnday t Friday 8:30 a.m. t 5:00 pm. Ministry f Revenue: Telephne:1-866-668-8297 Mnday t Friday 8:30 a.m. t 5:00 p.m. 25
Smart Meters and Time-f-Use Electricity Prices First Natins 2011 Nrthern Husing Cnference February 17, 2011
Seminar Overview Intrductin/Backgrund Smart Meters: The Basics Why Smart Meters and Time-f-Use (TOU) Pricing? Time-f-Use Electricity Prices: The Fundamentals Hw will TOU Prices Impact my Electricity Bill? What are the Best Energy Management Strategies n TOU Prices? Cnclusins/Questins 2
Electricity Sectr in Ontari On April 1, 1999, Ontari Hydr was restructured int five separate crpratins 3
Hydr One Overview 4
Where Yur Electricity Dllar Ges 5
Electricity Bill in Ontari 6
Smart Meters: The Basics 7
Yur New Smart Meter Standard Meter Circuitry Cmmunicatin Mdule Super Cap - Last gasp fr utages Meter cnsists f tw cmpnents Slid state meter (industry has been using fr years) Radi that enables the meter t cmmunicate Meter enables electricity cnsumptin t be measured hurly Meters apprved by Measurement Canada, tested by manufacturer, and tested by Hydr One befre they are deplyed 8
Hw Des The Smart Metering System Wrk? 9
Why Smart Metering and Time-f- Use Pricing? 10
Smart Meters and Time-f-Use Prices: Overview Smart meters and Time-f-Use (TOU) prices are a Prvincial gvernment initiative t prmte a culture f energy cnservatin in the prvince TOU prices are a new way t help custmers: Manage electricity use (and csts) Reduce strain n the electricity system Help the envirnment 11
Demand fr Electricity in Ontari When we all use electricity at the same time, we prduce peak demand perids In Ontari, we have: One peak in the summer Tw peaks in the winter 12
The Prblem: Supplying Electricity at Peak Times Has A Range f Negative Impacts Supplying electricity at peak times has a range f negative impacts: It adds t electricity csts It s hard n the envirnment It adds t the amunt f new transmissin and distributin infrastructure Ontari must build (and custmers must pay fr) and puts a strain n the electricity system S wrking tgether t reduce ur electricity use at peak times makes gd sense and that s where Smart meters and Time-f-Use prices cme in 13
Time-f-Use Electricity Prices: The Fundamentals 14
Time-f-Use Electricity Prices Explained Tday, cnsumers pay the average price fr electricity in tw tiers even thugh prices change thrughut the day Cnsumers using electricity ff-peak are paying mre than it csts t prduce Cnsumers using electricity n-peak pay less than what it csts t prduce Time-f-Use prices better reflect what it csts t prduce electricity at different times f the day, day f week, and seasn. 15
TOU Price Perids TOU prices are set by the Ontari Energy Bard in May and Nvember Three Time-f-Use Perids On Peak Mid-Peak Off-Peak Time-f-Use Perids vary Time f day, Day f week Seasn (Summer/Winter) The lwest prices (ff-peak): 9:00 pm-7:00 am weekdays All day weekends All day hlidays Beginning in May 1 st, ff-peak will begin at 7:00 pm instead f 9:00 pm, giving 2 mre hurs f lwer cst electricity in the evenings 16
Hw will Time-f-Use Prices Impact My Electricity Bill? 17
Bill Impacts n Time-f-Use Prices Bill impacts n TOU prices depend n usage characteristics and ability/desire t shift use where pssible Difficult t make generalizatins but: Custmers wh use mst f their electricity ff-peak will experience dwnward pressure Custmers wh use mst f their electricity n-peak (and d nt shift) will experience upward pressure Custmers wh have the average lad prfile in the prvince will see little difference Equipment/appliances that perate 98 Hurs/w eek (58%) 98 Hurs/Week (58%) SUMMER BREAKDOWN 30 Hurs/w eek (18%) On-Peak Mid- Peak Off-Peak WINTER BREAKDOWN On-Peak Mid-Peak Off- Peak 40 Hurs/w eek (24%) 40 Hurs/w eek (24 %) 30 Hurs/w eek (18%) 18
Time-f-Use Pricing Pilt (2007) A Time-f-Use price pilt was cnducted with abut 500 residential custmers in nrthern Yrk Regin. Results: 76% f custmers paid a lwer bill n TOU prices Average savings ver 4 mnths -- $23 (--$5.75/m.) Maximum savings ver 4 mnths -- $125 (--$31.25/m.) Average increase ver 4 mnths -- $7 (+$1.75/m.) Maximum increase ver 4 mnths -- $23 (+$5.75/m.) Only 4% f custmers fund the rate t be incnvenient 75% wanted t stay n TOU pricing 19
Bill Impact withut Shifting: Electric Heat Custmer 20
What are the best energy management strategies n Time-f-Use pricing? 21
What Are The Best Energy Management Strategies Fr Time-f-Use Rates? 1. Learn hw yu cnsume electricity View yur electricity use n-line the day after yu use it. Identify patterns in yur usage and pprtunities t cnserve and shift 2. Cnservatin shuld always be yur first actin Reduce pwer use acrss all hurs f the day wherever pssible 3. Shift when pssible and apprpriate. The mst energy intensive and cstly appliances t run are thse that heat r cl air r water: Clthes washing and drying Dishwasher Heating and Air Cnditining 22
Register at www.hydrone.cm t view yur Electricity Use 23
My Accunt Summary View 24
My Accunt Hurly View 25
My Accunt Daily View with Temperature 26
My Accunt Mnthly View with Temperature 27
My Accunt TOU/Retail Cntract Cmparisn View 28
What Can I Learn frm Understanding my Usage? D I need my A/C t cme n at 6:00 am and stay n all day? Why nt install and crrectly set a prgrammable thermstat? 29
What Can I Learn frm Understanding my Usage? What pwer am I cnsuming vernight and likely all day when I dn t need it? Culd it be Phantm Lad? Phantm Lad? 30
Reduce Yur Phantm Lad Phantm lad is the electricity cnsumed by a device when it is turned ff Example: Yur televisin cnsumes electricity as it waits fr yu t hit the n buttn n yur remte US Study: 6-10 percent f energy use translating t billns f dllars spent and cuntless amunts f pllutin int the atmsphere On average, 25 appliances in yur hme cnsuming pwer when nt needed What can yu d? Unplug all devices when nt in use Alternatively, plug yur devices int a pwer bar (and turn it ff when appliance nt in use).r use a pwer bar with a timer (set it and frget it!) Watch ut fr the cube shaped transfrmers that plug int the wall. These buggers are 60-80% inefficient when plugged in 31
Ptential Savings frm Shifting Electricity Use $100 savings per year ff vs. n peak $40 savings per year ff vs. n peak 32
Ptential Savings frm Shifting Other Cmmn Activities Duratin / Usage kwh RPP lwer RPP upper On-peak Mid-peak Off peak Rate 6.5 c 7.5 c 9.9 c 8.0 c 5.3 c Vacuum Cleaner 1 hur 1.20 $0.08 $0.09 $0.12 $0.10 $0.06 Oven Self-Cleaning Cycle 1 cycle 5.00 $0.33 $0.38 $0.50 $0.40 $0.27 Pl Pump w/heater 1 hur 4.50 $0.29 $0.34 $0.45 $0.36 $0.24 Based n TOU Prices effective May 1 st, 2010 33
10 Smart Meter Lane Appliance Calculatr 34
Take Advantage f Energy Cnservatin Prgrams Visit HydrOne.cm t keep up t date n new energy cnservatin prgrams 35
Hydr One TOU Ntificatin Plan Custmers in less dense areas f the prvince will make the switch t TOU later in 2011 thrugh 2012 Feb March May 36
Cnclusin Smart meters and Time-f-Use electricity prices are part f the prvince s plan t prmte a culture f energy cnservatin in the prvince Smart meters and time-f-use (TOU) prices are a new way fr custmers t: Manage electricity use (and csts) Reduce strain n the electricity system Help the envirnment Best Strategy : Learn- understand hw yu cnsume electricity at www.hydrone.cm Cnserve acrss all time perids Shift when pssible and apprpriate fcusing n activities that heat r cl air r water Yu will be ntified directly in the mail abut 30 days in advance f yur switch t TOU prices with a helpful brchure and TOU perid reminder decals 37
Thank-Yu Thank-yu fr yur time Questins? 38