To the Editor:
As many of you are aware, the recent Fortis BC work stoppage and rate increases have resulted in astronomically high power bills being received. While we also realize that these must be paid because consumption has occurred during this time, it poses undue hardship to most of us, as previous bills were estimated.
This bad feeling could not have come at a worse time. Christmas just passed, as well as one of the coldest winters Creston has had in many years. Many of us have called Fortis and been requested to hold for as many as long as 30 minutes to one hour or more for a customer service representative. We are then told we can make a payment plan but another bill is due and if we breach our repayment we will be set up for disconnection.
Fortis is the only choice we have, so there is no solution. As with the Fortis estimates, we too can estimate how much a month we can afford to pay and it comes no near what they require. This billing in some cases is over a six-month period and Fortis wants it paid as soon as they can get it, but since many people are on a fixed income this means they have to take money from other expenses to compensate. It will take six months before our bills are paid in full, and that is if a certain amount is paid monthly and not knowing what the next bill will be.
If you would like to voice your concerns, please contact Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall at 1-877-388-4498 or BC Utilities Commission customer service specialist Patrick Wruck at 1-800-663-1385. Maybe a better solution can be found for repayment should this happen again.
Linda Wellspring and Helga Schmidt
Lister and Erickson