by Jennifer Robles | Jun 27, 2013 | Blog, News
While most people would not be so easily swayed to believe they are past due on their credit card bills, the uncertainty of how to read monthly electricity use (KwH) makes it common for discrepancies to go unnoticed. Over the last month there have been dozens of reports where scammers have been targeting small business and homeowners, claiming they have late, overpaid or unpaid utility bills.
In most instances in cities like Montgomery, Alabama and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, consumers receive phone calls or knocks on their door from people impersonating utility representatives stating if they do not make immediate payments their services will be shut off.
“In order to avoid an interruption of service, the caller instructs the customer to go to a local retail store and purchase a pre-paid bank card for a certain amount. Customers then must call a particular phone number and provide the numeric codes from that bank card.”
– Dixie Electric
Unlike credit cards bills and bank statements which provide details for every transaction, utility costs vary not only by season, but day and time of day. Readings are provided in a lump sum at the end of the billing cycle, making it nearly impossible to differentiate electric costs and consumption other than comparing bills from one month to the next.
The hard pressed situation here is that because modern day society depends on electricity, consumers have conditioned themselves to expect a figure from their service provider despite understanding how the figure is formed.
City of Toronto fixed rates:
http://www.ontario-hydro.com/index.php?page=current_rates
Do you as a restaurant owner, homeowner or small business owner understand why your electricity bills are the way they are? If a storm disrupts the meters which track your electricity use, how would you justify the costs? If you’re not mindful of off-peak and on-peak hours how do you process your monthly statements? These are the loopholes in which scam artists find their prey. More specific demographics include the elderly and immigrant families where English is not the first language. Anyone who thinks they’ve been a victim or a potential victim of utility scams should report the information to their local authorities.
If you want to find out how to make sense of your utility bills visit Eyedro.com
by Jennifer Robles | Jun 3, 2013 | Blog, News
Waterloo, Ontario. May 31, 2013 – Waterloo North Hydro today announced it has invested in Eyedro Green Solutions Inc. eyedro.com, a local software and electronics design company that helps consumers better understand their electricity usage and help them reduce costs.
Through its holding company, Waterloo North Hydro purchased 23 per cent of Eyedro with an option to purchase an additional 10 per cent within a year.
“This is an important strategic investment for us,” said Tim Jackson, Chair of Waterloo North Hydro’s Business Development Committee. “It aligns well with our goals of being a leader in the energy industry and seeking investments that create value for our customers and shareholders over the long term.”
Eyedro is a privately-owned company with a focus on affordable energy management products. Their flagship electricity monitoring products allow consumers to visualize electricity usage in real time which helps them identify waste and reduce electricity consumption and costs.
“One of the few tools available to homeowners and businesses is to monitor electricity usage,” said Trevor Orton, CEO and Co-Founder of Eyedro. “Smart meters are a good start, but real time information is the goal. We are very pleased to be associated with a long standing and reputable company such as Waterloo North Hydro.”
Eyedro is one of the startup companies participating in the Waterloo Accelerator Program and is based at the Communitech Hub. With this new funding, Eyedro plans to accelerate growth of its product development and sales teams. The capital will also allow the company to focus on value-add partnerships with other complementary energy saving products.
“Eyedro is offering a unique and low cost solution to help consumers better manage their energy usage and reduce costs” said Rene Gatien, President and CEO of Waterloo North Hydro Holding Corporation. “There is a growing need for Eyedro’s products due to the increasing cost of energy and conservation initiatives being introduced by various jurisdictions including Ontario. We are very excited to be part of the Eyedro team.”
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About Waterloo North Hydro Holding Corporation
Waterloo North Hydro Holding Corporation is a holding company that owns Waterloo North Hydro Inc., the local distribution company and is jointly owned by the City of Waterloo, The Township of Wellesley and the Township of Woolwich.
For further details, please contact:
Waterloo North Hydro Holding Corporation
Rene Gatien, President & CEO
rgatien@wnhydro.com
519-886-5090
Eyedro Green Solutions Inc.
Trevor Orton, Co-Founder & CEO
torton@eyedro.com
226-499-0944 x220
eyedro.com & myFreeMonitor.com
