Fortis customers claim routine over-billing
KELOWNA – Days after angry Kelowna residents gathered outside Premier Christy Clarks riding office to protest unfair power bills, many people are coming forward with stories about being massively over billed.
Katie Krebs lives in Kelowna with her husband and two kids. She says last December and January, Fortis B.C. sent them a bill for more than double what it should have been. To add insult to injury, Krebs says she was belittled, questioned and threatened with disconnection when she pointed out the error.
“They asked us if there’s something going on at our house that they should know about,” she says. “Do you think if I had a grow op I would be calling them in tears complaining that I can’t feed my kids or pay my mortgage this month because of my power bill?”
On a Facebook page dedicated to gathering support for a petition to Christy Clark, seven different posters claimed to have been overbilled by Fortis in the last year.
Fortis B.C. spokesperson David Wylie says the company does not record that kind of information. He says in cases where bills are higher than expected they work with the customer to first try and figure out why. He says while it is possible the meter was not read correctly, there are other factors that are more likely.
“Maybe there is something that they were doing differently during that period,” he says. “Maybe it’s using baseboard heating a little more than they did the year before and weather patterns can affect that. This past November it was unseasonably cold and that kind of thing can have an impact, especially for customers who are heating their homes with electricity.”
Rose Sexsmith is the owner of Rose’s Pub in downtown Kelowna. Her house is heated with gas and she doesn’t have an air conditioner, so she was shocked to receive a $1,300 bill last summer.
“I’m really conscious of the energy I use,” she says. “I am still surprised to get a $200 bill because I don’t use that much electricity. I keep my thermostat set to 20, I use gas for my furnace and stove. I knew ($1,300) had to be a mistake.”
She says after writing and phoning Fortis B.C., they had her take a picture of her meter. They eventually admitted to making a mistake and her bill was reduced to under $200. The next month however, the same thing happened but this time for $1,100. Again she was asked to take a picture and again her bill was reduced by 80 per cent.
“I can afford this but what about all these people who can’t afford these mistakes?” she says. As the founder of 100+ Women Who Care, a group that raises money for various local causes, she says she is hearing more and more stories of low income families being forced under water by their power bills.
“There are so many people that are getting overcharged,” she says. “And why not? Who is their competition? I didn’t think monopolies were allowed in Canada.”
Krebs says even though she was able to eventually get through to Fortis, she still feels helpless and has no idea how much money to set aside for future bills.
“I think it’s ridiculous that this company is allowed to be the only provider and they can charge whatever they want and there is nothing we can do about it,” she says. “We can’t live without heat in Canada and they’re taking advantage of the monopoly they have.”
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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21 responses
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We had a house fire that wiped out everything.There is nothing at the property.We just got a bill for $3,750!I am taking this to CBC television.
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After the smart meters went in my area on vancouver island everybody’s bill jumped by at least 25%. These guys encourage you to use less power then just charge more to give less.
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Between damage deposits and usage fees, it’s nearly impossible for a low income earner to get out on their own. When I moved into my new residence between BC Hydro, Fortis, Telus, the damage deposit and rent was well over what I made for salary.When they add the damage deposit, they connect you and add it to your bill, if for whatever reason they disconnect you, you are required to pay the damage deposit fully, yet if you do not reconnect they simply take the amount off what you owe, just makes it harder to catch up. I do not see the point in the deposits other than to collect a revenue that they can collect an interest on until it’s time to pay the consumer back, which usually isn’t in the form of a cheque but rather in a credit to the service.
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Angry in kelowna November bill for two months 350.Our January bill two months 1050.00.We were away…. No Xmas lights out doors….
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Our bill jumped back when the strike was over, from like 200 to over 1000, we still haven’t caught up.i called them, they said it was because of the strike, and not meter reading, but that’s there deal, shouldn’t be ours,if they strike. I don’t think it’s right, because even before the strike, it was not that much.
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WE just received a bill from Fortis for over $600.00. No-one is home during the day and we have the heat turned off. Tell me how a Fridge, freezer and a stove we use maybe once a day can add up to $600.00? My Mom lives on her old age pension and I am disabled. Although I work and pay half the bills this is a shock tosee bills like this. The heat is turned right off and if the next bill is this high then I won’t be paying it!
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I own a trailer with wood heat and got a $800.00 bill!Crazy but what do you do, cant fight the government and win!
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Feel incredibly overcharged, but just do not have time to deal with it, so somehow with the threats of disconnection ,have just had to find the money to pay the outrageous bills, By not paying for something else!
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My bill almost doubled, called them, they said took a photo and is correct amount…oddly, my son had moved out, was not using drying or over, and working lots, hardly home. Was feeling quite smug looking forward to one of the smallest bills had ever had, INSTEAD, it was almost double. THIS IS A CRIME.
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This happened to me and Fortis had to go back 4 years to see what had happen they adjusted but this is crazy they raise the power when they want and this government does nothing about it..there are 2 of us living in this house I turn most all of the light out and my bill is still high and now with these smart meters I don’t trust this company…
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Retirement-one story 1200 sq feet, increase in Fortis Electricity bill for 2 months $360.00 makes budgeting and retirement impossible!
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What I don’t understand myself is, I now live in a newer condo with newer “power smart” appliances…. And some how my bills have jumped by $100.I wonder if this is a set up for the new meters.”Oh look at how much more having the new meter has saved you!!”
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the way they low/higher amounts on every other gas bill so you have harder time seeing slipups.
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I have a small Cidery, which is closed from November to April I turn off everything except one cooler which is on until February because we store apples in it and our power is over $2000.00.
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Same huge Jump on my bill! normally around 80$ a month and suddenly $600 for no reason. When I called they said they had been under billing me and this was them making up for it….
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so true, took me months to get my bill adjusted a couple of years ago, stayed good for a bit, and started overcharging again with their darn estimates! with all the money they do make, i am sure they can afford to hire more meter readers! guess they would have to train them , but hey, it be a win, win situation, more good paying job’s , more money spend in the economy! and most of all fairer billing, happier customers, less misery!
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just to say we have been getting bills like that akso and there is no way that we have used that much power and when we get a bill like that its how do we pay our mortgage and put food on the table, Christy clark you can start doing something about this instead of letting the power company keep raising the prices , shame on you.
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My house is heated with electricity, so we hit tier 2 right away and end up paying more.Doesn’t seem fair.
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my heart is very heavy over this. my heart goes out to the people. I too have a big jump in my bill. from 138.00 every 2 months to 550.00. my roommate and I share, rent an bills. because of this , he cant get meds cause of the power bill. and he is battling cancer. and cant get the food we need. I have diabetes. and I have to eat a certain way.
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