If you have had trouble keeping up with your electricity bills, you better give ENWIN a call.
The provincially-mandated moratorium for disconnecting hydro ends May 1 and the utility will soon start sending out notices that it may cut off electricity to those customers who are in arrears.
"We want to help customers to understand the options available to them," says ENWIN President and CEO Helga Reidel. "We understand some customers struggle to pay their bills, and we want them to know that they can come to us for advice about how to get back on track."
Reidel says ENWIN will make every effort to contact customers before a discontinuation notice is mailed out, but if the contact information it has on file is wrong, the disconnection will still go ahead.
"Letting debt accumulate affects all customers, not just those who are behind on their bills," reads a statement from the utility. "Local utilities must cover the cost of unpaid bills. This can lead to higher bills for everyone and, over the long term, could potentially impact the quality of service."
ENWIN provides at least ten days notice before cutting off service. Then, 48 hours before the cutoff, it will attempt to reach the customer again.
Payment arrangements, equal billing plans, and conservation programs are available to help make the cost of electricity more affordable for those struggling. Those customers may also qualify for assistance programs like the Ontario Electricity Support Program, or the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program.
The ENWIN Customer Service Centre is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.