Why is my Bill so High?
There are many other factors that can affect your hydro bill such as the time of year, your thermostat setting, outside temperatures, large size home appliances, additional people taking up residence in your home, home insulation quality, homemaking habits or the element in the hot water tank may be burnt out.
All of these factors contribute to the amount of electricity you consume. Therefore, your hydro bill will vary from month to month since the charges are based on consumption.
Why does my Meter Still Record Electrical Consumption when no one is Home?
Many appliances in your homes will consume electric power while you are away such as: aquariums, block heaters, dehumidifiers, cordless phones, answering machines, furnace fan motors, freezers, pumps, refrigerators, security systems, television sets, water heaters and electronic charging devices.
It is recommended to unplug any appliances when not in use to reduce your hydro costs.
What Happens when I go on Vacation?
If you are going away when your bill is due, you can prepay your account to avoid the late payment charge. The Automatic Bank Withdrawal(ABW) plan is a convenient alternative as well.
What Happens When I Move?
Please Let Us Know! We need at least 48 hours notice prior to cancellation of your account to allow time for a final meter reading. You will be responsible for consumption until a final reading has been obtained by our service staff. Call or visit our office to make these arrangements.
What Information is supplied on my Hydro Bill?
- ACCOUNT NUMBER: Every customer of Sioux Lookout Hydro Inc. is supplied with a 12 digit account number that can be used for payment processing and/or calling for customer service and having efficient access to your personal account.
- PAYMENT AMOUNT DUE: This will tell you your total cost for the month that needs to be paid
- DUE DATES: Payments must be received in our office by the due date to avoid a late payment charge. Allow for sufficient time for your payments to arrive at our office for processing in advance of the due date on your bill. If a cheque or money order is sent in the mail on or before the due date but we receive the payment after the due date your late charges will be reversed.
- ADDRESS: the address receiving the services and billing.
- ELECTRICITY: This is the cost of the electricity supplied to you during the billing period and is the part of the bill that is subject to competition.
- DELIVERY: The costs of delivering electricity from generating stations across the Province to Sioux Lookotu Hydro then to your home or business. A portion of these charges are fixed and do not change from month to month. The rest are variable and increase or decrease depending on the amount of electricity you use.
- REGULATORY CHARGES: Regulatory charges are the costs of administering the wholesale electricity system and maintaining the reliability of the provincial grid and include the costs associated with funding Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure conservation and renewable energy programs.
- DEBT RETIREMENT CHARGE: The Debt Retirement Charge pays down the debt of the former Ontario Hydro. Sioux Lookout Inc. collects this charge without mark-up, on behalf of the Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation. Effective January 1, 2016 Residential Customers no longer pay this charge.
- H.S.T.: All charges on the bill are subject to the Harmonized Sales Tax.
- METER READING: All Residential and Low Volume General Service customers have Smart Meters installed. Smart Meters communicate your electricity usage wirelessly. This eliminates the need to have a meter reader come to your home.
- kWh USED: This is the amount of electricity that was consumed during the billing period.
- ADJUSTED CONSUMPTION: This “loss factor adjustment” accounts for the small amount of power to be consumed or lost as heat when electricity is delivered over a power line and equipment consumption (wires and transformers) before it gets to your home.
- BALANCE FORWARD: Is the balance/credit carried forward from the previous hydro bill.
- TOTAL PAYMENTS: The total payment(s) applied to your account since your previous bill.
- LATE PAYMENT CHARGE: An interest penalty of 1.5% is charged on the outstanding balance if not received by the due date
- PROVINCIAL BENEFIT: The price of generation in Ontario is set by a competitive market. Certain generators receive payments through regulation or contract that differ from the market price. Your portion of the net adjustment arising from these different payments is included on your bill.