Still mad about "time of use" hydro??

[Greatwhite]

Without considering all those extra fees that pretty much DOUBLE my bill, I updated my spreadsheet with the new rates so I could do a summer vs winter comparison.

Really, with them switching the peak and mid-peak times, I only drop about 30 cents a month on running my lights with no change to my lighting schedule.  Somehow I thought that there was only 4hrs of peak time per day, but it's 7am to 11am (not 9am as I thought) - and then 5pm to 7pm.  So that's 6hrs of peak, and 6hrs of mid-peak from 11am to 5pm.

I can see why they would flip the peak and mid-peak schedule, since the sun heats houses during the day in the winter.  It's really taking advantage of us though.  And now they're hitting me at supper cooking time, which sucks because I don't BBQ much in the winter.  I'd just move supper to after 7, if not for 2 small kids who are on their way to bed at that time.

[bt]

Seems like a good enough time to re-post this....  Updated with the new TOU rates, and allowed for easy updating of all of the extra fees.

[bt]

Ever since the TOU stuff was first announced a few years ago, the times have flipped between the summer and winter.  They've tweaked the times a bit (off-peak used to be 9pm-7am), and the rates obviously, but flipping for the winter hasn't changed.

[Greatwhite]

Ever since the TOU stuff was first announced a few years ago, the times have flipped between the summer and winter.  They've tweaked the times a bit (off-peak used to be 9pm-7am), and the rates obviously, but flipping for the winter hasn't changed.

Yes.. I wasn't on TOU before, so didn't notice it.

[Greatwhite]

BWA HA HA HA!!! A friend of mine posted what I'd consider a "shock ad" on facebook trying to sell people on 9.1 cents flat rate.  As some of you might know, I like to debate... And after all the chatting on here, I consider myself to be knowledgeable on the subject.

I just asked if they were seriously trying to sell 9.1 cents as a good deal...  and the debate skyrocketed from there.  The dude asked if my hydro provider gave freebies, like iTune cards, dinner vouchers, etc.  So I asked where the money for those items comes from.  *silence*

The truth is, it's tempting to sign up for something when they try to shock you by showing you big graphs and scary numbers.  Then when you are told "you can cook any time of day and not worry about the rate!" it's tempting.  But then freebies on top of that!?!?  Great!!

Do the math.  1 week of 1 kW on TOU is $2.98 (remember that weekends are off peak)...  1 week of 1kW at 9.1 cents is $4.39.  How is that savings??  Yeah, people do more during the day than at 2am - but I do ALOT more on weekends than during the week, and that's a significant increase in the rate on weekends from 6.2 to 9.1...

[bt]

9.1 cents is a good deal - IF you use close to twice as much electricity in peak periods (71% more, specifically) as you do in off peak periods.

[JetJumper]

I remember when TOU came out this place was selling 5year fixed at 5.49C

http://www.acncanada.ca

I don't know what their deal is now, but they still have lock ins.

[Greatwhite]

9.1 cents is a good deal - IF you use close to twice as much electricity in peak periods (71% more, specifically) as you do in off peak periods.

His big sales pitch was to say that "not everyone can cook or do their laundry in non-peak time"... Cooking, no...  My kids turn into green monsters if I feed them too late.  But.... Laundry? *shrug*

9.1 means that he's passing his "customers" to someone at 8.7, and that guy is passing all those customers to someone at 8.2, and all of that guy's customers are going to someone at 7.5.  The pyramid scheme is one of the 7 moronic wonders of the world...  I can only assume that this guy is waaaay at the bottom.

[bt]

His big sales pitch was to say that "not everyone can cook or do their laundry in non-peak time"... Cooking, no...  My kids turn into green monsters if I feed them too late.  But.... Laundry? *shrug*

Even then, if you consistently cook dinner at the same time, it's going to be mid-peak for half the year - at 0.1 cents more per kWh than the fixed rate, which means using 29 TIMES as much electricity during mid-peak than off-peak before you break even.

[Cheebs]

Boy did I almost get swindled... And I hope I still don't get screwed over somehow.

Even after reading these posts and telling people not to ever buy/sign things from door to door people, after a beer or two my judgment was a bit cloudy last friday.

At abut 8 pm 2 young bucks show up at my door, not wearing any uniforms or badges, with clipboards (big red flag). They were friendly, I even showed them some of my tanks, since they were visible from the door, and they came in and took pictures with their cellphones and all that... So they had me in a good mood.

They said they represented Hydro Ottawa (another red flag, Hydro Ottawa does not go door to door) And needed to see my latest hydro bill. I was naive enough to believe this and promptly showed them my bill. They then said I was elligible for another 5 years of Time of Use Savings, and had me sign a couple papers (god what was I thinking). I asked if I could get a copy of what I had just signed, as I saw there were the pink and yellow copies of the "contract" under the one I had just signed, but they said they couldn't and that I would receive a call after 10 days to confirm that I would be staying on the same program.. I spotted an unfamiliar "Just Energy" company logo on one of the papers, half hidden by the clip on the clipboard, and I asked them what Just Energy was. They told me it was some other company and not to worry about it. Those 2 beers must really have been pumping through my veins because somehow I said "oh ok that's cool" and pleasantly showed them out the door. But my suspicions were aroused. As soon as they left I pulled out my laptop and typed in the words "Just Energy scam" in google, and BAM, I immediately knew I had been duped.
I ran outside and waited near the neighbors house for them to come out, and confronted them. I said I had called Hydro Ottawa and was told that they don't go door to door to sell contracts. I said that I wanted the contract I had just signed to be given back to me or torn up in front of me. They told me that it was "government property" now and that they couldn't do anything. So after some more arguing they turned their backs on me and walked away.

Today I gave Just Energy a call, and after being transferred from the main phone line, to the Alberta call center, then to BC, and finally to Ontario, I gloriously was able to speak to a very nice, english speaking woman named Angus. She cancelled my application, filed a complaint, appologized and said that they've had several issues with their employees misrepresenting Hydro Ottawa. She asked for a description of the two guys (who by the way would not give me their names when I asked them) and was willing to send me the cancellation in writing and everything. She also provided her name and ID number. I'm still a little sceptical, but I hope it's all worked out now.
For the last time I will say this: NEVER AGAIN!

[Peekay]

Eee good save Chubs.  Glad they were happy to help when you called. 

[dan2x38]

Hope you requested a copy of a cancellation confirmation from the nice English speaking woman in Alberta? I would make sure I had such a document. I would also call the Better Business Bureau, the Police, consumer and coporate affairs plus anyone else anyone else can mention here?

I had some of these jokers show up at my door a few years ago I told them to piss off before I called the cops the second they announced there business at my door. They left ASAP I a sure you!

I have no use for those that knock at my door unannounced or anyone calling I do not know I didn't give my number too. I send them packing and as for phone calls they never enjoy the experience of calling I doubt.

[Greatwhite]

Yup!  I get this guys at my door monthly, sometimes more.  I always send them on their way when they ask to see my latest bill.  If Hydro Ottawa wants to talk to me - they HAVE MY INFORMATION.  Plus the whole "hydro ottawa doesn't go door to door" thing that Chubs mentioned.  You do have a little protection in that the contract ALWAYS needs to have a head-office person call to confirm that you did intend to sign up with them.  If you tell them that the guys came to you door "as Hydro Ottawa" and you have no clue what Just Energy is - they will cancel it, no questions asked.

Another door to door scam is the hot water heater upgrade guys "representing Enbridge" or "green Ottawa" or some crap like that, wanting to see my hot water heater because I qualify for a "free upgrade to a high efficiency one"... Yeah, they have NO affiliation with Enbridge whatsoever, and I have gotten letters and calls from Enbridge warning of these guys.  Basically, yes - they will change your water heater and you'll end up on a contract of some sort with them.  The BAD thing is, if you're renting the water heater in your house, that heater is property of Enbridge (or Direct Energy?) and you will get hit with a hefty charge when Enbridge realizes that THEIR heater is now gone.

[Cheebs]

It's terrible... And yeah Dan I was close to calling the police. I got all the information could from the lady, and they are supposed to send me written confirmation.... supposed to...

[White Lightning]

If we keep it at 24 the upstairs is generally 26-27 degrees which makes sleeping unbearable. I'm going to install some ceiling fans this winter, maybe that will help.

Did you install those ceiling fans. Winter is almost over......lol

[Cheebs]

At this rate by the end of next week there won't be much snow left! It's been the warmest February I've ever seen.

[White Lightning]

Yeah no doubt. Gotta love global warming... I leave for Mexico in a week. I thought going in February would be a good idea because of the cold. Who woulda thought? Although I am sure we will get another dump of snow before too long.

[sas]

Although I am sure we will get another dump of snow before too long.

Shhhhhhhhh

[Dakotamay]

You know what aggravates me about this whole TOU bull roar. On the news last week I saw a story they covered that said for the last few days Ontario had paid the USA 1.1 Million dollars a day to take our excess hydro off of our hands. I couldn't believe what I was hearing and seeing. Seriously, they put us on TOU and charge us up the you know what for hydro and then spend that kind of money a day to give another country our extra hydro. Shouldn't they at least of sold it to them not paid them to take it!
How's that for our government not making one bit of sense. Really we as the citizens being screwed all the time need to grow a set and stand up against this stuff.
This story was on CTV Ottawa but I can't for the life of me find the story. Hope maybe someone else can.

[Nerine]

or how about how much we're being paid to generate electricity...it's just silly