Last October, a tree fell on a power line leading to Kip Van Kempenâs cottage on Mazinaw Lake, north of Kingston, Ont. Hydro One crews came and cut the tree and disconnected the line but they were unable to repair the power line because of red tape and logistical issues. It took eight months for Hydro One to restore the electricity to the Ajax residentâs all-season cottage. When Van Kempen later received his electricity bill, he said he was stunned.
âAt that point the smoke was coming out my ears,â he told CTV Toronto. âIf youâre not providing it (electricity) to the building, because you snipped the wires to the building, then youâre not delivering it. How can you charge a delivery charge?â
Hydro One charged Van Kempen hundreds of dollars in delivery fees for the months his cottage was without electricity. The bill even shows his electricity usage per day during those months as zero. The delays in restoring power to the cottage were due in part to the lack of accessibility. Van Kempenâs cottage is only accessible by ATV or boat. He said he tried repeatedly, for months, to make repairs and secure the inspections needed to reconnect the power.
According to Van Kempen, Hydro One is arguing that they provided the electricity and if the customer didn't use it, thatâs the customer's problem. Van kempen says the delivery charge is âdeceptive and unfair.â
âThe arrogance was unbelievable,â he said.
Now, he is suing the utility company for $7,500. He describes his small claims court fight against Hydro One as a David and Goliath type battle.
âFinally, I said, âIâm not going to argue with you guys anymore, tell it to the judge,â Van Kempen said.
Hydro One would not discuss Van Kempenâs case because it is currently before the courts. However, in a statement issued to CTV Toronto, Hydro One said that customers always receive a monthly flat-rate delivery charge if the utility companyâs equipment, including the smart meter, is still on the customerâs property. Van Kempen should have cancelled his service and returned Hydro Oneâs equipment if he wanted to avoid paying the automatic delivery charges.
âThe fixed charge is not payable if the customer requests electricity service to be cancelled,â the statement said.
With a report from CTV Torontoâs Paul Bliss