Hydro Bill has us sick to stomach! Help?

[0002]

Hi all,

My hydro bill came up to $330 bucks this month. We don't understand it one bit. We live in a semi-detached residential house. We don't have anything that would make it go up that high. Family of 4. It has never been that high before!

Our supplier is Ontario Energy Savings L.P.

Our OES Energy charge: 157.89
Provincial Benefit 1684.025 KWH @ 3.461 cents/KWH: $58.28

Delivery: 75.61
Regulatory: 10.72
Debt/Retirement Charge: 11.36

Does anything look out of wack here? Please help, if you have any idea..compared to yours...is it really that bad? how much do you guys pay usually?

We have been saving energy like crazy rabbits meaning we turn off the lights, use energy saving bulbs, not using AC..etc.

...we will call customer service on Monday but what do you guys think?:mad:

[fastlayne]

I too have a family of four. We are not on any energy plan.

We had consumption of 1308 kwh (estimated for this billing period) which cost about $80 (a combination of 5.6, 5.7, 6.5 and 6.6 cents).

The delivery charge - $56

Regulatory charge - $8.36

Debt Retirement - $8.49

GST - $7.69
_______________________________

$161.39


Your consumption of 1684 is high. Perhaps there has been a meter misread. If so, your next month will be a lot less.

But what the heck is that OES Energy charge of $157.89. This is equal to my whole bill.

When your energy plan comes up for renewal, DON'T!!!

[rdtx2002]

they seem to come up in ripoffreport.com

[oddduck]

Sounds like someone signed up with the door to door companies... :twisted:

[45ED]

Is someone leaving a computer on all day and night (and they/he/she hasn't told you)? Did you/did they switch you to a monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly billing cycle?

[HSK]

[B]Our supplier is Ontario Energy Savings L.P.


Thats your problem right there. Figure out who signed you up for OES.

[Cr0at1a]

You really are saving a lot with Ontario Energy Savings L.P

Let that be a lesson to everyone

Is someone leaving a computer on all day and night (and they/he/she hasn't told you)?

My computer uses less than 100w per hour.
Even if your computer uses 200w per hour that is 1 kw every five hours
... not much usage

[0002]

Turns out we DID sign a contract for 5 years with that stupid OES. My Dad says if he terminates contract he has to pay 900 dollars. He got totally screwed over. I want to type some bad words but I won't. So basically, we weren't paying a lot for hydro before the contract so we don't really benefit from the contract. It IS a rip off! OES should choose clients that would benefit from their service. Enough ramble.

Thanks guys for helping us out. It really put it into perspective...we got screwed over big time.

I hope someone reads this so they won't get screwed over. :!:

[Si98]

I stopped answering my door a long time ago unless I'm expecting someone. Usually its a Jehovah witness or some scammer trying to sell me something. Paying $900 to get out of your contract might be better than paying god knows what for the next few years. Good luck whatever you do.

[mingyang]

my mom had to pay about 900 to get off ......

next fgt comes and knocking the door when im home, ill just tell him to fk off

[45ED]

I stopped answering my door a long time ago unless I'm expecting someone. Usually its a Jehovah witness or some scammer trying to sell me something. Paying $900 to get out of your contract might be better than paying god knows what for the next few years. Good luck whatever you do.

+1 It sounds counter-intuitive, but I suggest comparing your rates to other companies and seeing how much more you're paying. If, over the course of five years, you are overpaying OES by more than 900 dollars, it may be to your family's benefit to "bite the bullet" and pay the penalty and get out now.

[corrupt123]

if oes is charging 150 on top of the bill, wouldnt the regular provider (hydroone?) be $150 cheaper?

[sxz]

You got shafted by OES. If your dad confirmed with OES that he wanted to sign up then there's not much you can do as it is a legally enforceable contract. It's probably cheaper for you guys to just pay the $900 and get out of the contract than paying $100+ more than what it should cost every 2 months for 5 years.

[0002]

Guys, I'm APPALLED. I googled the name "Ontario Energy Savings" and dozens of horror stories came up. They trick people by pretending to be from the government demanding to look at bills. In one of the posts below, a guy who lives pay cheque to pay cheque is about to lose his house because of these FREAKS. AND in an article by the Toronto Star the President of OES says

"We certainly don't promise savings," says Gord Potter, vice-president of regulatory affairs for Ontario Energy Savings. "But you see the potential for savings in our brochures." - that's not what they say when they come to our DOORS!!!!! in fact it's the opposite.

http://slearch.blogspot.com/2007/11/ontario-energy-savings-scum-of-earth.html

http://www.yayacanada.com/ontario_energy.html

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/182737


Basically in the article it says they have to make a follow up call within 30 days to ask the person who signed if they STILL agree to the contract after signing it and if theyy understand it. This is where the contract is be terminated without any penalty. And they have to record the call. And we have a right to ask for a copy of the recording.

I'm calling OES to ask for a copy of the recording.

If not, we are NOT paying an extra $4500 in 5 years to OES.

[williamsauga]

1. get solar powered roof
2. ditch the Hydro

[thelefteyeguy]

1. get solar powered roof
2. ditch the Hydro

do you know how much a solar powered roof cost?

and Toronto does not get a lot of sun through out the year....

[Wallly]

Switch to hydro one , let them work very very very hard to get the $900.
Or just don't pay'em :twisted:

[Heynow999]

Yea, just switch back to hydro one, and don't pay them. It is very difficult to collect money from someone. Let them try, just keep telling them you were tricked. Tell them to sue you and you will settle it in court. It sounds like they didn't follow the rules about calling you back, so you will win in court. Represent yourself, it would be worth the $900 for the one day you have to spend in court.

Believe me, sueing someone is tough. They have to fill out a ton of paperwork and serve it properly, they have all kinds of costs and procedures they have to follow. All you have to do is show up and tell your side of the story.

[randomdef]

Yea, just switch back to hydro one, and don't pay them. It is very difficult to collect money from someone. Let them try, just keep telling them you were tricked. Tell them to sue you and you will settle it in court. It sounds like they didn't follow the rules about calling you back, so you will win in court. Represent yourself, it would be worth the $900 for the one day you have to spend in court.

Believe me, sueing someone is tough. They have to fill out a ton of paperwork and serve it properly, they have all kinds of costs and procedures they have to follow. All you have to do is show up and tell your side of the story.

sending it to collections is much easier, which would be the more likely route.

[CSK'sMom]

This really should be in the Home & Garden forum. :confused: As for changing the name on the bill, good luck. It doesn't work, they will just send the cancellation fee to a collection agency and decimate your credit rating. The contract is not ties to the property, it's tied to the name on the contract. If you signed and confirmed when they phones if you want out of the contract they will get their cancellation fee, one way or another.

[cmackie]

This really sucks for you guys! I hate it when any of those energy retailers come by my door. It pisses me off to no end when they say (every time) that they are from the hydro company and just need to check the bill.

[gman]

Hi all,

My hydro bill came up to $330 bucks this month. We don't understand it one bit. We live in a semi-detached residential house. We don't have anything that would make it go up that high. Family of 4. It has never been that high before!

Our supplier is Ontario Energy Savings L.P.

Our OES Energy charge: 157.89
Provincial Benefit 1684.025 KWH @ 3.461 cents/KWH: $58.28

Delivery: 75.61
Regulatory: 10.72
Debt/Retirement Charge: 11.36

Does anything look out of wack here? Please help, if you have any idea..compared to yours...is it really that bad? how much do you guys pay usually?

We have been saving energy like crazy rabbits meaning we turn off the lights, use energy saving bulbs, not using AC..etc.

...we will call customer service on Monday but what do you guys think?:mad:

Is OES energy charge a flat fee every month?
Is Provincial Benefit actually a deduction?

[Cr0at1a]

I can't believe that people are still being suckered by these companies. Both CBC and CTV have had shows warning people yet people still sign up.

[wallop]

I stopped answering my door a long time ago unless I'm expecting someone.

+++1

This morning a lady knocked my door three times. I simply ignored her.

I have no idea who she was, where she came from or what she wanted.

And I tried very hard to care less and less, and I succeeded. Just turnaround and leave.

Raus!

I wish everyone did this.

[mrG]

These places are evil. Pure evil. I had one guy come to my door trying to tell me I'd only be signing up to receive an "information package" so I could do some research on it. The package eventually came, looked like junk mail (which nearly got thrown out), and had fine print about how I would be entering into a contract if I didn't call to cancel within 90 days. So I called immediately and tried to cancel. However, they told me I would have to wait until the 90th day to cancel. Yeah, nice try guys. The fine print clearly read I could cancel any time before the 90 days, so I called them out on it, and finally got them to agree to cancel. Got my cancellation confirmation number from them, and never heard from them again. Thank god.

[Fox2k]

Is someone leaving a computer on all day and night (and they/he/she hasn't told you)? Did you/did they switch you to a monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly billing cycle?

We have 4 computers on 24/7 and our hydro isn't even close to that high :/

[Frankie3s]

I stopped answering my door a long time ago unless I'm expecting someone. Usually its a Jehovah witness or some scammer trying to sell me something. Paying $900 to get out of your contract might be better than paying god knows what for the next few years. Good luck whatever you do.

I do this as well and always remind my parents to do the same. One time when my dad opened the door (when they weren't expecting anyone) I gave him hell for it. I just managed to get them off of Direct Energy and am not anxious to have to go through all this nonsense ever again.

[0002]

Man oh man. I gave my Dad what he deserves. eh hem..I mean after reading all the horror stories all over the web I do feel a bit of sympathy for the ones that got suckered into it. I remember it happened a few months back I got pretty angry when I realized he just signed something at the door and he didn't even know what the company's name was (I think he thought it was from the government). yep, you guessed it, his english isn't that well either. BUT with that said these creeps are actually big fakes so it's even worse. Basically they say this to trick people "I'm with Ontario Energy, I need to see your bill. You're paying too much, you need to sign here to save money."

What's worse is that my dad can't even remember what he said when they did a follow up call within the 30 days! So what I'll do is call them up and demand the recording of the phone call...and then ask to pay the cancellation fee if need be. And if I can sue them I'd love to.

I for one am very cautious about people coming to our door and when I found out what my dad did, I couldn't believe it. Makes all of us sick. BUT I hope he learned his lesson...gah! a $4500 signature.

It should be illegal for these types of companies to even include the name "ontario" in it.

[0002]

These places are evil. Pure evil. I had one guy come to my door trying to tell me I'd only be signing up to receive an "information package" so I could do some research on it. The package eventually came, looked like junk mail (which nearly got thrown out), and had fine print about how I would be entering into a contract if I didn't call to cancel within 90 days. So I called immediately and tried to cancel. However, they told me I would have to wait until the 90th day to cancel. Yeah, nice try guys. The fine print clearly read I could cancel any time before the 90 days, so I called them out on it, and finally got them to agree to cancel. Got my cancellation confirmation number from them, and never heard from them again. Thank god.

NO way?! That's the devil!

[0002]

+++1

This morning a lady knocked my door three times. I simply ignored her.

I have no idea who she was, where she came from or what she wanted.

And I tried very hard to care less and less, and I succeeded. Just turnaround and leave.

Raus!

I wish everyone did this.

It's great you guys are doing this. I've seen on the news several people have been shot just by answering their doors!!!! I'm not exaggerating at all. it happened last year..several instances in T.O. It was really random..and the freaks drove off.

[hehehaha]

happened to me before, but that was my enbridge bill, so i called enbridge tell them that i didn't sign up anything, not sure why i got charged(well, i did sign it, but they said they are from government, for saving energy etc, so i considered that's fraud), and they asked me if i have anyone in the household that's under 18 that may have signed it...i just said yes(in fact that's not the case)...........when they lied to you to make you sign up something, you have to do the right thing for yourself to get your money back........so at the end everything back to normal for me, i ended up have to make a few calls to make sure this and that, but it worked out for me.......good luck

when they are evil, you have to be the devil to play with them :twisted:

[cliffclaven]

I'm in BC, so forgive the question, but are these companies some kind of resellers?

[gman]

I'm in BC, so forgive the question, but are these companies some kind of resellers?

Yes.

[0002]

Update:

We called OES and told them we wanted to terminate the contract. They said we have to pay 470 dollars to do it. We are on the 1.5 yr out of 5 yrs of the contract currently. So we said yes to it. They said it would take 1-2 billing cycles for the termination fee to show up on our bill and that afterwards we won't see their name on our bill. The thing is we are on a bimonthly (billed every 2 months) so it means our contract will be cancelled around 3-4 months! Screw those bastards.