NL Hydro billing error sends electric bills soaring on the coast of Labrador

Some NL Hydro customers on the coast of Labrador were shocked this month to receive bills double ortriple and in one case, nearly 20 times their previous month's bill.

In January, Sybilla Bennett of Hopedalereceived a bill of $42.38. She got the surprise of her life to get a bill this month of about $800 which she said would be difficult to afford.

"I can't keep paying this much after Christmas especially I mean, I already struggled since Christmas time, and as soon as I'm about to get back on my feet this $800 light bill is knocking me down again," she said.

Last month, Jim Tuttaukof Hopedale paid $34.33 for electricity. This month, his bill was $525.71 a jump of more than $490 and 15 times his previous bill. The huge leap made no sense to him.

"It just don't make sense, especially how we use wood as primary heat. You would probably understand it more if you use it, say, on 25 or 30 degrees every day 24/7," he told CBC's Labrador Morning.

Billing errorto blame

But NL Hydro says the high electricity bills were caused by a billing error on their part. In a statement released Friday, the utilitysaidadditional energy was added onto people's accounts due to delayed meter readings.

The company isissuing corrected bills to affected customers, and advisedpeople who have questions to contact customer service at 1-888-737-1296.

Torngat Mountains MHA Lela Evans, who has been looking into the issue, said heating costs are a sensitive issue because people on the north coast can't always afford to heat their houseseven while burning wood.

"Not everybody has a snowmobile. Not everybody can actually go out and physically cut the wood, so people have to buy it, and it's really, really expensive," Evans said.

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