Council says no to energy savings companies

It was an eventful night on Monday for City Councillor Tanya Vrebosch-Merry, as this was the first time she tabled a motion since being appointed to her council seat. The issue was the fact that energy companies have been coming to North Bay and recruiting citizens to switch their energy or gas bills over to their company, promising a lower rate.

“They make you think they’re part of the hydro or gas company, and you end up signing a contract with them for five years – which basically increases your rate,” Vrebosch-Merry said.

MPP for Temiskaming-Cochrane, David Ramsay is putting forward an amendment to the Private Members Bill, which should make it tougher for these companies to recruit unsuspecting customers. Vrebosch-Merry supports this amendment because it will add another step to the process the companies (Universal Energy, Ontario Energy Savings and Direct Energy) go through when signing up new customers.

“Rather than just going door-to-door and having you sign something that you’re not really aware of and then they give you a phone call, that basically people have three kids screaming in their ear, and they don’t realise what’s going on so they just say yes, ‘You’ve just signed up for a five year contract,’” Vrebosch-Merry stated. “This (amendment) now says that you have to sign a re-affirmation letter, so that you understand what you’re signing.”

However the amendment does not say how big the print on the re-affirmation letter has to be.

Vrebosch-Merry said that the companies will go after certain type of people -- who she called “Cognitively Impaired”, because they won’t know what is happening and will think it is a good idea to sign up.

“They’re not going up to Carmichael Drive or Airport (Road) as much as they’re going to where they see Co-op’s or the non-profit where they know that it’s lower income. They’re definitely targeting those because they feel that those are the people that don’t realise. But what’s happening is through education and word of mouth; these people are banding together and shutting their door, they’re threatening to call the police.”

Vrebosch-Merry had a bit of advice for people who will come in contact with the energy savings companies.

“Basically if someone comes to your door and they’re asking for your hydro bill, call the hydro company themselves. Because if they really want something or information from you they’re not going to be sending someone door-to-door to ask you. Always double-check that it’s legitimate…double-check that they are sending somebody to your house themselves.”