BLUEWATER POWER - BlackburnNews Sarnia file photo by Meghan BondBLUEWATER POWER - BlackburnNews Sarnia file photo by Meghan Bond
Sarnia

Not much interest in hydro pricing option locally

Bluewater Power customers were given the choice of switching from time-of-use to tiered pricing as of November -- but the majority did not.

President and CEO Janice McMichael-Dennis said, so far, less than 10 per cent of their customer base has changed how they're charged.

"We have had, at this point, approximately 2,500 customers, who have indeed elected to switch from time-of-use rates to tiered rates," said McMichael-Dennis. "That election window continues to be open. Customers can choose that at any time and it just simply takes logging onto the My Account function online or of course giving our office a call and we're happy to help."

McMichael-Dennis said the switch has saved the average customer a few dollars.

"Certainly every dollar helps, but it's not a significant change. If you are a higher use customer, or a customer who actively consumes a lot of your electricity off peak, you're better off to be on time-of-use, but the average customer, who follows an average parameter, and uses an average amount of electricity, they are about normally $1 or $2 better off to go under the tiered rate."

There's no deadline to make the switch, if you switch to tiered and are not happy you can switch back, and customers who choose to do nothing will stay on time-of-use pricing.

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