The number of write offs involving overdue due bills at North Bay Hydro has risen dramatically. The utility wrote off $1.1 million in 2016 compared to about $25,500 in 2015. In 2014, North Bay Hydro wrote off $17,500 and in 2013 overdue accounts resulted in a write off of about $10,600. The North Bay Nugget says last year’s overdue accounts involved more than 2,900 customers compared to only 145 the previous year. During 2016 North Bay Hydro also disconnected nearly 600 customers for not paying their bill compared to 91 in 2015. The Nugget reports that low-income people struggled with their power bill and that 30 of them were disconnected in 2016 for not paying their bills compared to 16 the year before. The figures are from the Ontario Energy Board.
