Many PEI residents have led social networks in recent weeks to ask questions about what they inexplicably consider Maritime Electric energy invoices.
Brackley’s resident, Kirk Harnish, faced the threat that Maritime Electric turned off his energy because he has not paid his bill during the last two months. He is convinced that he is not accurate.
“In recent times, they are doing a little further. You can’t handle with electrical invoices like this,” he said.
“My bills were probably maximum of around $ 300 a year ago and now there are $ 400, $ 600 and more.”
Harnish said that his power habits have remained exactly the same during the past year, and he heats his home completely with wood. However, their invoices for December and January were $ 200 to $ 300 more than I expected, and almost double what they were during those months a year ago.
Harnish called Maritime Electric to question if there is a problem with the meter that records its use of electricity, but has not received any response.
“All I want is a satisfaction to see what is happening here, why my light bill is so high,” he said. “I don’t mind paying the invoice if you know it’s true, or you can get some satisfaction if you know something is wrong.”
Dozens of other islanders have raised similar concerns on social networks this winter, as well as through emails to CBC News.
Meanwhile, people in Nueva Scotia and New Brunswick also complain about their high -power bills. The New Brunswick government has really asked NB Power to perform an independent audit after generalized complaints of customers.
‘How can people pay this?’
Donna Glass lives in Morell, but she moves to British Columbia during the winter months.
Every winter, turns its electric heat at your home as Pei while it left. This year, said Glass, disconnected even more appliances than in previous years.
Many maritime electrical customers on Prince Eduardo island have resorted to social networks to complain that electricity bills arrive in hundreds of dollars higher than during the same winter month a year ago. Steve Bruce of the CBC looked at the matter for them.
Even so, its maritime electricity bill increased from approximately $ 400 last January to $ 550 this January.
“I have fewer things plugged in, and I know it has been a bit colder in Pei for the month of January, but I’m still in a state of shock that costs $ 552,” Glass said.
“If you are paying a mortgage and other invoices, how can people pay this?”
The Regulatory Commission and Appeals of Island, which approves the prices of maritime electrical charges to customers, said that energy rates have increased 2.5 percent between December 2023 and now.
Glass said he still does not explain why the use of electricity shown in his invoice increased 60 percent.
She wants to have an energy audit performed at her home in Morell, and added that she is thinking of selling the house if her invoice continues to go up.
“I am more than 65 years old, so I’m thinking of reducing size anyway. But I thought I could sell my house and let someone more deal with this problem,” Glass said. “I am thinking, if it is so high in an empty house, what would be the invoice if it were at home?”
A colder winter?
Maritime E. The utility suggested that the problem may be that this winter has been colder than the last.
December 2024 was in fact three degrees colder in general, while January was a colder degree.
Rob Hoadley, a mechanical engineer and heating specialist in Fredericton, NB, said that seemingly small temperature changes could have a great effect on someone’s bill, even if they are using more efficient energy sources such as heat pumps.
“It makes a difference, especially when we get those very cold nights, –20, –25. If in a certain month we have more and more and more of those nights, it will really notice it in its invoice,” said Hoadley.
“The heat pumps love temperatures above –20. They work fantastically. But there will come a point where your heat pump can no longer produce heat effectively.”
The coldest part of the year really doesn’t make a difference because I’m warming up with wood.– Kirk Harnish
Harnish is not satisfied with the explanation of the coldest climate of his great bills, since he does not heat up with electricity.
“That is the excuse that I get from Maritime Electric. They always say: ‘Well, we are living in the coldest part of the year,'” he said.
“The coldest part of the year really doesn’t make a difference for me because I’m warming up with wood and my lifestyle is not really changing at home.”
After his interview with CBC News, Harnish said that Maritime Electric appeared at home and installed a second meter to compare his readings with the existing one. Now the results are now waiting.
The utility has not disconnected Harnish’s power at this point.
The islanders are encouraged who have questions about their invoice to communicate with maritime electrical. If you are not satisfied yet, you can file a complaint with the Regulatory Commission and Appeals of the Island.
The commission said in an email that it has not noticed an increase in customer complaints with respect to high -energy invoices recently.
