(SUDBURY, ON.) – Beginning this week, Greater Sudbury Utilities customers will notice a new message on the outside of their statement envelope. GSU will be transitioning from bi-monthly billing to monthly billing, and the utility is trying to give their customers some time to get used to the idea.
“We’re letting customers know that over the next few months, we’re moving to monthly billing, as opposed to the current bi-monthly billing,” said Lorella Hayes, Vice-President of Corporate Services. “We’re branding it EasyBilling as we believe bills based on a shorter consumption period will make it easier for people to manage their budgets. By January, all of our bills will be sent monthly.”
The Ontario Energy Board now requires all Local Electricity Distribution Companies in Ontario to switch to monthly billing for power used after January 1, 2017. All residential customers will receive a bill with approximately 30 days consumption and a monthly due date.
Shorter billing periods will allow customers to better align their hydro and water bills with other expenses and should help to make monthly budgeting easier.
GSU also bills water and wastewater on behalf of the City of Greater Sudbury. “Those bills will be issued monthly too, with estimated and actual readings alternating each month,” said Hayes.
The transition to monthly billing will occur in November and December, and by year-end, all customers will be converted.
Customers are reminded that they can sign up for paperless billing on the GSU website under “My Account” (www.gsuinc.ca/myaccount) where they can also access current consumption information.