'Hopeless quagmire': Ombudsman
highlights Hydro One complaints’
BY
CHRISTINA BLIZZARD, QMI AGENCY
TORONTO - You can put
lipstick on a slippery pig, but it’s still one greasy piece of pork.
That’s
the message we got from Andre Marin, the province’s crusading ombudsman as he
released his annual report Monday.
His
office is still piling up complaints from irate Hydro One customers angry at
the giant electricity utility’s shocking billing practices.
Hydro
One became a target for Marin earlier this year after he received thousands of
reports about Hydro One’s faulty billing practices.
Among
the complaints, people who signed up for pre-authorized payments found their
accounts cleaned out. Customers who had been getting bills for $200 a month
suddenly had their bills spike to thousands of dollars. And they had no choice
about paying.
In
a shake-down that would put a con artist to shame, Hydro One simply emptied out
their accounts.
Marin
told reporters Monday his office now has now received 7,961 complaints.
I’m
not surprised. Hydro One is one of the most arrogant, out-of-touch
organizations I’ve ever dealt with.
Marin
said dealing with the giant utility is like wrestling a “slippery pig” — which
is an accurate description, from my experience with them.
Complaints
ranged from unintelligible billing, erratic billing and unexplained withdrawals
from customers’ accounts.
There
were also cases of overbilling, lack of meter readings and smart meter malfunctions,
Marin said.
His
favourite story is that of a customer whose house had burned down and who
continued to get a bill from Hydro One ~ More.
The
chair of Hydro One is Sandra Pupatello (Appointed by Kathleen Wynne, April 1st, 2014)
The
president and CEO is Carmine Marcello. His salary last year was $724,916.
***
To
read the full story, go to 'Hopeless
quagmire': Ombud highlights Hydro One complaints,’ in the Toronto Sun
Newspaper
Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin has launched an investigation into billing and customer service practices at Hydro One, a distributor of electricity.
That probe is generating over 200 complaints a day (Now numbering over 7,000) from customers who say they’ve been the victim of missing, inaccurate and skyrocketing bills.
Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s annual report in December raised alarm bells about the OPG pension — the company puts in four to five dollars for every one dollar from an employee.
Lysyk also found examples of questionable expenses, such as OPG’s decision to pay $80,000 to cover the cost of one employee’s 10-kilometre move to Pickering from Toronto in the wrong direct from his work.
***
 |
| Kathleen Wynne: “Ms. Pupatello and Mr. Lord will provide advice and guidance to help deliver clean, reliable and affordable energy to Ontario’s families and businesses,” a government statement says. “They will lead efforts to find efficiencies and address human resource issues, executive compensation as well as potential pension reform.” |
Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin has launched an investigation into billing and customer service practices at Hydro One, a distributor of electricity.
That probe is generating over 200 complaints a day (Now numbering over 7,000) from customers who say they’ve been the victim of missing, inaccurate and skyrocketing bills.
Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s annual report in December raised alarm bells about the OPG pension — the company puts in four to five dollars for every one dollar from an employee.
Lysyk also found examples of questionable expenses, such as OPG’s decision to pay $80,000 to cover the cost of one employee’s 10-kilometre move to Pickering from Toronto in the wrong direct from his work.
Editor's Comment: Some guidance!
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