An OPEN LETTER to the BC Government and Fortis BC and Media Outlets:
I will not sit quietly by while those in authority and corporate monopolies continue to plunder the meager wallets of the majority of BC people. If this letter is never responded to, I will be all right with that, for at least I know that I have spoken. I am speaking for the majority of British Columbians that are just too tired or discouraged, thinking that their voice no longer matters.
Like most everyone else right now I am trying to desperately figure out how I am going to be able to pay my HYDRO Bill. It skyrocketed and I know that I have done everything (short of going solar and wind power – which I cannot afford) to make my home energy efficient.
There were 2 increases in January of this year. One for 4.2% and an adjustment of 2.3%. Did anyone receive a pay increase or pension increase in these amounts? I don’t think so.
Do you realize that there is also a 2 tier payment system in place as well? “As compared to pre-conservation rate bills, the result is that if you use less than 2,500 kWh every two months, you will have lower bills”. 1
There are only two of us living here and our kWh consumption was 5737 for 2 months. How much electricity would a small family use?
FORTIS BC INCREASES and ADJUSTMENTS:
EFFECTIVE DATE INCREASE AMOUNT ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT January 1 2011 6.6% May 1 2011 2.5% June 1 2011 1.4% January 2012 1.5% 2.5% JULY 1 2012 Move to 2 PRICING TIER CONSERVATION RATE As compared to pre-conservation rate bills, the result is that if you use less than 2,500 kWh every two months, you will have lower bills. Conversely, if you use more, you will have higher bills than prior to the RCR. FortisBC will receive the same amount of revenue from residential customers. September 2012 Interim increase approved by BC Utilities Commission approved on January 1, 2012 September 2012 1.5% January 1, 2013 4.2% January 1, 2013 2.3% January 1, 2013 2.3% TOTALS 17.5% 7.3%
From January 2011 to January 2013 there have been 8 increases or adjustments.
Those on fixed incomes or in the private sector did not receive increases in their pensions or wages to match this. I guarantee there are hundreds of seniors out there who have shut off their electricity because they simply CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP WARM!
“B.C. families to benefit from lower BC Hydro rates
For 2012-13, rates have gone up by 7.1 per cent, allowing BC Hydro to pay down its deferral and regulatory accounts at an accelerated pace. This increase was also recommended by the BCUC and put in place on April 1, 2012. An average household has seen bills change by about $5.40 per month.
On April 1, 2013, rates will be kept to a minimum, rising by only 1.44 per cent or $1.20 for an average monthly bill.
The total rate increase over three years will be about 17 per cent, ensuring that British Columbian families pay among the lowest electricity rates in North America.” 2
Insanity! “BC – the best place on earth” where nobody can afford to live. I am not feeling any benefit of paying among the lowest electricity rates in North America!
Did I mention that we also happen to have wood heat supplemented by heat pumps?
The following is an interesting piece of writing (my guess is propaganda fiction) according to WelcomeBC the BC Government of British Columbia’s official site for Immigration and Welcoming Communities: “In February 2012, British Columbians earned an average weekly wage of $860.57, comparable to the national average of $855.69. The average hourly wage in the province was $23.77. Hourly wages in the province remain slightly ahead of the national level of $23.53. British Columbia’s Real Personal Disposable Income—the amount of money you have left over after paying deductions, social insurance and other fees—is on the rise as well. Between 2003 and 2009, B.C.’s Real Personal Disposable Income per capita grew 15.9%, slightly higher than the national average of 15.7%. In 2009, British Columbians had an average disposable income of $25, 3374.” 3
SERIOUSLY? I would like to know where these numbers came from. Is this based on Politicians, Corporate Executive salaries and those working in the public sector? It is certainly not the average wage of the working person in the private sector. I wouldn’t have a clue what to do with all that “disposable” income.
THE REALITY IS:
“Minimum wage rates in British Columbia increased on May 1, 2011, November 1, 2011 and May 1, 2012 as follows:
General minimum wage • May 1, 2011 – $8.75 per hour; • November 1, 2011 – $9.50 per hour; • May 1, 2012 – $10.25 per hour”. 4
This is an increase of $1.50 per hour or 13%
Does this increase keep up with the cost of living? Absolutely not.
“While the U.S. currently has the worst record on income inequality, the gap is growing in Canada at a faster rate and, within Canada, the trend in B.C. is much worse than in most other provinces. In the last ten years, the average household income of the top 1% in B.C. has increased by 36% while, for the rest of us, real median incomes have stagnated, even though we’re working harder.”
“And the final minimum wage rate of $10.25 an hour will not put a worker above the poverty line in Vancouver and other large cities in B.C.” 5
“The average Canadian’s consumer debt load hit $27,485 at the end of 2012, a six per cent increase over the previous year’s level and the first time the figure has been above $27,000. Credit monitoring firm TransUnion says the average Canadian’s consumer debt load increased at the fastest pace seen since 2009 at the end of last year.”
“Debt loads ticked higher in every province except B.C., where they shrank by 0.09 per cent. TransUnion notes, however, that while consumer debt loads in B.C. are shrinking, at $37,244 the province still has the highest average debt load in the country.” 6
This is not only a letter about Hydro increases (that was just the straw that broke the camels’ back) – it is a letter about ALL the increases. We are being nickelled and dimed to death, in every aspect. HST, Basic Customer Charge, Delivery Fee, Fuel Surcharge, Contribution Fees, etc. I cannot even understand some of the bills that are sent to us with their peculiar wording. Just as we think we might catch up, another increase of some sort crops up. These increases all add up…but our pensions and wages do not. Enough is enough!
Where are those politicians that claim to care for their constituents? Are they speaking for us? Why are we selling our electricity to the US when they are still in a state of protectionism for their own country? We desperately need to keep our resources in our own country.
Who will stand up and speak for the people of BC living below the poverty line and those who are working so very hard but are spiraling into depression while struggling to make ends meet?
Is there any wonder why there is so much substance abuse, crime, mental and emotional illness in our society? If a person is continually worried about losing their home, (if they have one) paying their bills, keeping warm, feeding themselves and their families they will turn to destructive or desperate measures, if they cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel. Stop the madness.
Kelly Wheeler