tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post3242526689363937838..comments2024-03-20T09:32:16.592-04:00Comments on Michael James on Money: Equal Billing Plans Encourage Increased ConsumptionMichael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-88690498294741383602020-10-31T23:30:24.923-04:002020-10-31T23:30:24.923-04:00The comment above is a reply to Larry MacDonald...The comment above is a reply to Larry MacDonald's comment:<br /><br />Wow. The extra charges in July for some users ranged between $600 to $1,100, according to Ellen Roseman's post. How could Enbridge screw up by so much? The billing plan not only misled users into consuming more than they otherwise would have. It also did not contribute to conservation of energy from a larger perspective.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-15103912696650093362010-07-28T16:02:04.608-04:002010-07-28T16:02:04.608-04:00@Anonymous: To be precise, you're not really ...@Anonymous: To be precise, you're not really out any money. You are paying for the natural gas you used. The issue is that you were surprised with the news that the cost was more than Enbridge said it would be. Unexpected bills have a cost, but how much trouble they cause has a lot to do with the nature of your finances. The other cost you face is the lost opportunity to lower your thermostat further if you absolutely had to keep your natural gas costs down.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-41416829359813328212010-07-28T14:11:02.198-04:002010-07-28T14:11:02.198-04:00We set our thermostat at either 20 or 21 Celsius. ...We set our thermostat at either 20 or 21 Celsius. My family does not overconsume natural gas. Yet because of the BBP screwup I'm out money. What really angers me is it was their fault. I could accept colder weather than normal leading to a higher balance at the end of the season for the BBP but not this way. This is a lesson for all of us to not trust big companies to do the right thing (BP anyone?).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-29073978486482285532010-07-26T21:28:14.310-04:002010-07-26T21:28:14.310-04:00@Gene: I'm not on equal billing, but if I tho...@Gene: I'm not on equal billing, but if I thought I could get a loan from Enbridge each year I might try it.<br /><br />@Financial Cents: I guess it depends on how you look at it. Unexpected bills are no fun, but getting an interest-free loan is good.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-706356853121107192010-07-26T20:58:37.833-04:002010-07-26T20:58:37.833-04:00Good article Michael.
Maybe I should count over...Good article Michael. <br /><br />Maybe I should count overselves lucky because we got a credit back from Enbridge last month for our gas bill (overpaid with BBP)?Financial Centshttp://myownadvisor.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-14047769868895401622010-07-26T18:50:10.983-04:002010-07-26T18:50:10.983-04:00Sure is an odd situation. Enbridge was inadvertan...Sure is an odd situation. Enbridge was inadvertantly offering deferred payment on natural gas to its customers. This is a serious oversight, giving so many customers a free ride. Now, it's angering them by asking for payment that people haven't budgeted for. Maybe they'll make up for the free loan given customers with late fees and interest, but that's no way to run a railroad, as the expression goes.<br /><br />If I were a customer on the equal billing plan, watching an increasing shortfall build up, I would feel lucky to be able to defer payment. If I weren't paying attention, I would feel blindsided just like the other clients.genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05608927986297939720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-72129869678166558112010-07-26T16:16:01.783-04:002010-07-26T16:16:01.783-04:00@Larry: I think the larger issue is your latter r...@Larry: I think the larger issue is your latter remark that the billing plan hides excessive consumption until the end of the year. It's hard to know what went on for the extreme cases of $600 and $1100 charged at the end of the year. Maybe a couple who moved out of a house kept the place at 18 degrees C in the winter, and the new owner prefers 25 degrees C.<br /><br />I think it makes sense to crticize Enbridge for encouraging over-consumption, for failing to update the billing plan amount earlier in the year, and for underestimating usage for too many customers, but the extreme cases could easily be the result of large increases in consumption from one year to the next.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-34231122897822634122010-07-26T13:19:02.003-04:002010-07-26T13:19:02.003-04:00@Gene: Overcharging slightly would probably be a ...@Gene: Overcharging slightly would probably be a smart approach by Enbridge and it would likely make most customers happier. However, I don't think the concept of equal billing serves consumers well.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-10389831203264528682010-07-26T13:13:04.375-04:002010-07-26T13:13:04.375-04:00This is a good point. Enbridge might be wise to t...This is a good point. Enbridge might be wise to take a page from the government's handbook and overcharge by 10-20%. Then at the end of the year, customers will be happy to receive a refund.genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05608927986297939720noreply@blogger.com