Hydro mix-up leaves some Scabrorough residents on the hook for hundreds

A wiring mix up in a Scarborough neighbourhood has caused some residents to be overcharged for almost a decade while others are being billed for hundreds of dollars.

It was discovered that some residents have been paying their neighbours’ Toronto Hydro bill for the last seven years, resulting in one couple receiving a bill for almost $1,400.

Mohamed and Sandra Ishmael told CityNews Toronto Hydro informed them that they had used 11,000 more kilowatt hours than they paid for, which they say they cannot understand because they have been conserving since she lost her job two years ago.

“I don’t know what Hydro is talking about. Sending a bill to us and not informing us it’s like we’re so stupid we’re going to say ‘here take fourteen hundred dollars,” Sandra explained, adding that the couple doesn’t even have the money to spare.

Toronto Hydro says the wiring mix up may actually be the error of the builders.

An Ontario Energy Board document, which deals with situations like this, states that if the customer isn’t at fault the maximum that can be collected for underbilling or claimed for overbilling is two years.

That means units that have overpaid will only be entitled to a partial refund, while those who have underpaid will only have to pay back part of what they owe.

The document also states that Toronto Hydro is not allowed to charge interest.

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