Consumer Advocate says Newfoundland Power ratepayers want November bills investigated
Numerous Newfoundland Power customers have complained of errors in their November power bills. According to the province’s Consumer Advocate, Dennis Browne, one customer stated that their October power bill was $181 but their November bill was $413, another stated that their bill went from $256 to $698, and another that their bill went from $289 to $550.
“We have received in excess of 80 calls and emails over the last four days with similar complaints. Complaints keep coming,” says Browne. “If Newfoundland Power’s customers had the advantage of Smart Meters, there would be no complaints because customers would be able to monitor their energy usage daily.”
Browne noted that Newfoundland Power is one of the few jurisdictions in Canada whose customers do not have the advantage of Smart Meters. Newfoundland Power’s meters, he says, are regarded as outdated and are not used in other jurisdictions due to all of the advantages associated with Smart Meters.
“Customers believe their meters are not providing accurate information for billing purposes,” he says. “Customers have no confidence in Newfoundland Power’s meters. Newfoundland Power does not seem to want customers to be able to monitor their own electricity usages and prefers to be in charge.”
The Consumer Advocate is now calling on Newfoundland Power to address the concerns of its customers who have experienced large spikes in their recent bills. Also, the Consumer Advocate has written the Public Utilities Board requesting an investigation into this matter.