Hydro blames cold weather, forgotten usage for higher bills
Posted March 7, 2012 3:04 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Yesterday, we told you about a man whose Hydro bill has tripled since the installation of a smart meter. Today, News1130 is talking with BC Hydro about why this happened and what to do if it happens to you.
Following our story, we received several calls, emails, comments and tweets from people also noticing drastic increases like Brad Hugel. But BC Hydro‘s Jim Nicholson argues complaints don’t just come from people with smart meters.
“Calls that we’re getting from customers that do query their bills… it’s about equal the number of people that are calling us that have an old analog meter and those who have a smart meter,” he explains.
He blames the increase on winter weather and notes people often forget they’ve used a whole bunch of power.
“We really have no control, beyond the meter, as to what’s happening inside the households of the customers.”
BC Hydro called Hugel on Wednesday to book a time for a specialist to go look at his meter, and News1130 will continue to follow his story.
Meanwhile, Nicholson suggests if you notice an anomaly to contact the company.
