I've tried contacting people at BC Hydro by a few other means and I've been completely ignored. Let's try a new route.
I pay between $55 - $65 per month in hydro electricity. To give you an idea of why this is ridiculous, a friend in an apartment a third again as large pays at least half, sometimes two thirds, as much. Caveat, I am home most days due to being disabled and not working, but you'd think that would lead to a symmetry in my usage, not spikes in the weekends. Yes, I have a washer and dryer, but I use them once every seven to ten days, not every single day. When I went away for three weeks, my bill was equally ridiculously high even though the only thing running was my refrigerator. While my refrigerator may not be the most energy efficient model on the planet, some how I don't think it's using $65 worth of electricity on it's own.
I have been promised an "investigation" when I phoned. No investigation was ever performed that I can tell. I suspect this is all a matter of a mislabelled meter, nothing more, nothing less. I'm also willing to believe that the smart meters aren't so smart. I have had letters ignored. When BC Hydro announces they're hiking their rates something like 26% over the next several years, I get cranky. I'm already overpaying by a good deal - and even if I've been paying someone else's bill since the smart meters went live, I'm pretty sure I'll never see a refund. However, I'd kind like this fixed so I'm not paying more for electricity than I spend in six weeks of gas for my car.
One disabled woman, one laptop, one fan, a gerbil, a refrigerator, a barely used oven, and semi-regularly used kettle and microwave shouldn't generate this much. I'll start doing the actual math if BC Hydro continues to ignore me and then pitch a real fit -- via the news media.
The realistic answer, however, may be to start getting Freddie the Gerbil to generate electricity by running on his wheel.
or switch companys and get the new compant to check the meter Thats what I would do,good luck Lorna,xx Rachel
ReplyDeleteThere's a dream of an answer. If only! We only have one electric company, and while it used to be a crown corporation, it was privatized by our wonderfully misnamed Liberals. The quality of service dumped quickly.
DeleteI think the sticker shock is due to going from $20 - $25/mo to so much more. I got suspicious since my downstairs neighbours changed about the same time as my bill sky rocketed!
Lorna, just to put your mind at ease on one thing: It's impossible to mislabel a smart meter. The whole process of changing the old analog meter to the new smart meter is done via prompts on a handheld computer. A close-up photograph of your old meter is taken, then a closeup photograph of the new meter is taken. Both show the meter numbers. The old meter photograph also shows the meter reading at time of removal.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with your billing is serious and I hope you can get answers. I'm just saying that it's not likely due to an incorrect smart meter installation.
Unless the old one was gibbled too. I think we were already smart meters when I moved in, I honestly don't remember. I'm just trying to come up with some benefit of the doubt beyond "BC HYDRO SUCKS MONKEY BUTT!"
DeleteBut.. but.. "BC HYDRO SUCKS MONKEY BUTT!" is so accurate. Having a third party check the meter is one thing, but removing the meter could cause you a lot of grief. If Hydro has completed "that part" of the infrastructure, removing the meter will cause alarm bells to ring and you'll have a visitor. The situation sucks and I hope a resolution, other than "move", comes quick enough.
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