A report shows more and more Ontarians are struggling to pay their electricity bill.
A report from the Ontario Energy Board says more than eight per cent of Ontario households were in arrears with their electricity bill at the end of 2015, owing more than $172-million.
Enwin Utilities in Windsor was ranked 12th out of 75 electricity distributors in the province.
More than 6,000 Enwin residential customers owed over $1-million at the end of 2015.
Enwin CEO Helga Reidel admits the increase over 2014 in Windsor is higher than many other communities.
Reidel attributes the rise to a number of factors, the biggest being the bad winter in 2015.
But Reidel points out between January and March of that year, no one had their hydro disconnected.
Enwin’s policy for someone in arrears is to send two letters asking for payment, which would be followed by a telephone call and then eventually a disconnect.
Jane Muir is the CEO of the Unemployed Help Center of Windsor. The Center operates the “Keep the Heat” program, which Enwin helps fund, to help low income residents and families pay their energy bills.
According to Muir, they are assisting five per cent more households this year compared to last year, when 873 households in Windsor Essex received assistance.
Muir admits the higher cost of energy has made it difficult for residents to pay their bills, even seniors, who are on fixed incomes.
She notes some people have to make decisions about paying their energy bill, or paying for medication or food.
In order to qualify for the program, a household income must fall within a certain limit, and that resident can apply only once a year.
