Billing, smart meters top complaint list

ONTARIO - Electricity customers upset over billing problems or smart meters were the most common hydro complaints filed to the Ontario Energy Board OEB, according to its latest Consumer Snapshot.

The top concern related to energy retailers and marketers was the existence of a contract tying a person to a particular company even though that customer had no recollection of signing it or seeing a copy.

“The OEB encourages consumers with a complaint about their utility, electricity retailer or natural gas marketer to contact the company first to try and resolve the complaint,” the Snapshot says. “If the consumer has contacted the company but the complaint has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the consumer, the consumer may file the complaint with the OEB’s Consumer Relations Centre.”

The OEB received 1,769 complaints during the period between April and June, according to the most recent information available, and 479 of these were “escalated” for further review.

“Approximately $152,000 returned to consumers for billing adjustments, waived liquidated damages and reimbursements by licensees,” the report stated.

There are some complaints the OEB canÂ’t do much about because it lacks jurisdiction or information.

Some examples are people calling to complain that they donÂ’t like smart meters or time-of-use pricing.

The provincial government has decreed that all homes will have smart meters.

The OEB regulates the provinceÂ’s electricity and natural gas sectors.

Customers with a complaint can contact the OEB by phone, letter, fax, e-mail or with a web form.

Consumers can also check out the Snapshot on line to see which companies are getting the most complaints.

TOP FIVE COMPLAINTS FOR UTILITIES:

1. Billing, including errors in billing amount, no bills received, transfer of arrears from another customer

2. Smart Meters/Time of Use such as not wanting a smart meter, increased bill amount with TOU prices

3. Rate issues

4. Disconnection, reconnection, new connections

5. Ontario Energy Board bill insert asking about timing, content.

TOP FIVE COMPLAINTS FOR ENERGY RETAILER/MARKETER

1. No copy of contract

2. Reaffirmation, such as declining contract on reaffirmation

3. Renewal, such as renewed after cancellation request

4. Misrepresentation of identity, such as person claimed to be with government, utility of OEB

5. Cancellation charges.