Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

I made an error. Bill included 5 days in the old place. New place was 25 day billing cycle 349 kWh total before taxes 27 and some change. 35 after the taxes and fees.

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

Sounds very high! Our last bill (for 2 months over the winter) was $123.23. We have a 650sq ft 1-bedroom apartment with insuite laundry, dishwasher and electric baseboard heaters. It's much less in summer -it's the baseboard heaters that drive up the cost.

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

Thanks all. Went and read the meter last night and in the last 6 days, since BC Hydro read the meter the daily consumption has been 15 kWh/day, about where it should be. Comparing that to the over 50 kWh/day being billed by BC Hydro I am starting to think there was an issue with the move in meter reading.

Oh well phone call to BC Hydro I think.

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

Do you mean $71.20 total or $59.00 plus the $71.20 to total $130.20 for the month..

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

Did you check the consumption stats online for previous billing?

Again, the meter reading is taken automatically when you open the account by BC Hydro - there meter reading is not provided to them.

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

My online account won't show me the consumption, another reason I don't think the readings are being taken properly.

It's strange they don't actually have to provide evidence of a meter reading.

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

The total bill was $71.20.

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

Thats odd. Our online account shows daily consumption and has at each place we have lived the last few years.

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

I am starting to thinking meter is manually read. Especially given our current bill says next meeting read on or around 29 March. It is a slightly older build (2000). We are querying with BC Hydro. If manually read I think the opening reading may have been read lower than it truely was.

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

That seems strange, particularly if you have just received a bill - BC Hydro is on a 60 day cycle I believe.

https://www.bchydro.com/accounts-bil...sidential.html

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

I thought they had finished the upgrade to smart meters - our building was built in the mid-70s and has smart meters. Though it looks like you can have a radio off meter too

https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/...ros-meters.pdf

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

Their website does say a small number are still being read manually. My data consumption online shows a single data point I.e between two readings. I'm happy for them to turn on the radio if that is the issue at least a mistake can't be read reading it. Why or why can't they have competition so I could vote with my feet?

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

So after calling:

1) We are on a smartmeter and it is read remotely. Strange its only red once a month though.

2) As the consumption seems so off with previous usage they are going to investigate and get back to me (we shall wait and see on this one).

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

How often would you expect it to be read? Do you want to be billed more often than monthly ?

Re: First BC Hydro Bill
 

Believe me BC Hydro is one of the cheapest rates in North America and 3rd cheapest in Canada. Rates range from approx. 8 -12 cents per kwh depending on consumption. It was 6 cents per unit when I arrived in 2007. I run a 3500 square ft home for $150 per month which includes electric heating, dryer and a few thousand lights. If you want competition go back to the UK and see what competition did to their market! Try the States as well, you will be surprised just how much power costs. Base board heaters are the least efficient means of heating the home. My buddy who lives in Whistler heats his house with these heaters and his bill is around $1000 per month. Most properties should have smart meters installed which get read remotely (rather than by expensive meter readers). You can always request one if you don't have one already. Smart meters were installed to replace outdated technology (mechanical meters) and to reduce electricity theft which was extensive throughout the Province. Why are costs rising? Many of the assets in BC are very old, successive governments did not raise rates for many years and didn't put money by to replace aging infrastructure. Hydro is spending billions on replacing the old equipment throughout the Province. Oh and don't forget successive governments have taken huge 'dividends' from the Crown corporations in the past decade.