TORONTO – Hydro One is considering allowing its customers to use pre-paid meters for their electricity use.
The proposal is contained within a massive Ontario Energy Board application, which also asks for a rate increase of 0.5 per cent this year and 4.8 per cent next year.
The application says the pre-paid meters would minimize Hydro One’s financial risk by requiring customers to pay for energy before using it — in particular for customers who are deemed to be a high collection risk.
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But Hydro One’s executive vice-president of customer care and corporate affairs says it would not be used as a collection tool.
Ferio Pugliese says if the OEB allows Hydro One to move forward with pre-paid meters, they would be offered to customers as a choice and wouldn’t be forced upon anyone.
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He also says — despite language in Hydro One’s application — that customers would not be disconnected once their pre-payment ran out.
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