THUNDER BAY — Help is available for hydro and natural gas customers finding it difficult to pay their energy bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Synergy North, the utility serving the cities of Thunder Bay and Kenora, says people who are behind in their bills have a suite of provincial financial assistance programs to choose from, including a new one.
The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) was recently approved by the province and the Ontario Energy Board.
It's a $9 million fund that provides for a one-time, on-bill credit to eligible residential electricity and natural gas customers to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments.
Applications will be accepted starting Monday, July 13.
Eligibility criteria include:
- the customer's account was in good standing on March 17, 2020 and the customer was not enrolled in an arrears payment agreement prior to March 17
- the customer failed to make complete payment for electricity and/or gas charges on at least two bills issued since March 17, and has an overdue balance on the date of their application
- the customer or spouse residing in the same residence is unemployed on the date of the application, and has received EI or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit since March 17
Funding is limited, and applications are expected to be processed in the order they are received.
Eligible electricity customers may qualify for a one time CEAP credit for half the electricy charges that are overdue, up to a maximum of $115.
However, if a home is heated mainly by electricty, or if the applicant uses an at-home energy-intensive medical device, the credit may be increased to $230.
An application form is available online at synergynorth.ca.
Natural gas customers in Northern Ontario may qualify for a one-time CEAP credit for half the natural gas charges overdue on the date of their application, to a maximum of $160.
In a statement Monday, Synergy North noted that three other assistance programs have been available to customers outside the pandemic, and remain in force.
They include the Low-Income Emergency Program, the Ontario Electricity Support Program, and the AffordAbility Fund Trust Program.
"We know that falling behind on bills adds stress to the lives and well-being of our customers, especially now, more than ever, during the pandemic," said Andy Armitage, manager of customer service and billing for Synergy North.
"We want to remind our customers that there is support and assistance programs to help whatever their situation may be," Armitage added.
In an interview Monday, another Synergy North spokesperson said the utility did not have updated information on the number of customers currently behind on their payments, or how that number compares with previous years.
However, she said Synergy North has been authorized to grant a total of $52,000 in relief under CEAP.
