astronomical hydro bills, please help!

[Michelle Basler]

First of all, please let me apologize if this forum is the wrong forum to ask this question in, but I am at my wits end. We live in Ontario, Canada and our past two hydro bills have been about $1100 each. They were winter hydro bills, so we do expect them to be slightly higher, but not $2200 for 3 months. I did notice that on my hydro bill, on the line that says "Metered usage in kilowatt-hours" that they multiplied our metered readings by 20. When I investigated on Hydro's website, they said that they should multiply this line by whatever is listed on your meter. I just checked our meter and it is a digital meter that says "MULT X 1". Any idea why Hydro would be multiplying our metered usage by 20? We are trying to figure out why this is happening. Thanks so much,
Michelle

[Rob Beckers]

Hi Michelle,

Hmmm... "MULT x1" means exactly that, multiple-reading-by-one to obtain usage, as far as I know. What did Hydro-One have to say about it when you asked?

-RoB-

[Allan Adams]

Forget the multiplier! If your electric bill was as high as you say BEFORE the incident, TIME FOR THE REVOLUTION! Begin working to get as free from grid power as you can. Even if you cannot afford full solar or wind (and you can if it is an alternative to bills like that!), you can begin by encapsulating some of the heavier and more critical power needs into solar and wind. Methane is also a wasted resource if you happen to have a septic tank or livestock. So many options become very reasonable when ones bills go that high. Consider it a blessing. The alternative is near free after the initial investment. What most miss is that there is a knowledge factor that can enrich far beyond what the difference is between your grid bills and renewable energy investment. Things will present themselves that you cannot even imagine as a utility company lamb.

PS: not sure about your area but around here, deep country, they will multiply the x1 by estimated future use if too lazy to come read the meter... or too cowardly to face the puppy. Could be they are changing the billing cycle.