Post by Max on Jan 25, 2008 13:58:17 GMT -3
Perhaps it was a coincidence that Greater Sudbury Utilities shut the power off to a group of apartment tenants on one of the coldest nights of the year Tuesday. Coincidence or not, it was a reckless, miscreant decision and warrants an apology from the City of Greater Sudbury and assurances the lives of Sudbury residents will never be put in danger again.
Greater Sudbury Utilities cut off power to the 32-unit complex at 507 Kingsway around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday due to an overdue account. Power was not restored until Wednesday afternoon, leaving tenants, including some seniors, without heat all night. The landlord, who lives in southern Ontario, told The Star the account was in arrears a grand total of $59.
While the tenants were not surprised the utility bill was in arrears - it's not the first time - they had no idea the power was going to be cut off and were unhappily surprised when it happened just as the mercury dipped to -30 C.
Many of the tenants have been wit**olding rent from the landlord pending improvements to the building following a massive flood last year. The landlord has, in turn, acted to evict the tenants. What not even he expected was that the utility would aid his cause by shutting off the power.
Meanwhile, the tenants, having decided to wit**old their rent, had no recourse. One spent the night in her car. Another lost wages trying to find a place for her children to stay. Another pointed out she'd love to move, but the rental market is so tight, there's nowhere to go.
This should never have happened, and the trail of blame is long and wide. The utility has the authority to cut off power to delinquent accounts, but told The Star it only does so when the city does not issue a cold weather alert.
On this occasion, the city did issue a cold weather alert, and still the power was cut. That was mistake No. 1.
Utilities manager Doug Reeves told The Star the tenants always had the option of paying the hydro bill themselves. But since it's not their account, they had no way of knowing it was in arrears (although they weren't surprised to learn it). Neither were they warned power was about to be disrupted. Thus, they could only have paid the bill after power had been cut off. That's mistake No. 2.
Some tenants resorted to burning candles for heat, the least efficient and most dangerous way to heat a space. Had the building caught fire, it would have cost the city far more than the outstanding hydro bill to extinguish the blaze, and it could well have cost lives. That's strike three.
So who's responsible for this mistake? Greater Sudbury council is the sole shareholder of the Greater Sudbury Utilities family. In fact, utility profits flow directly into the city's coffers in the form of dividends. Appointed city councillors control the utility's board of directors.
Indeed, power was only restored to the building within hours of the utility being contacted by The Star, apparently after Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriquez - a board member - intervened.
The City of Greater Sudbury put the lives of Sudburians in danger over a $60 overdue hydro bill. Council must explain why this happened, and assure citizens that it will never happen again.
Greater Sudbury Utilities cut off power to the 32-unit complex at 507 Kingsway around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday due to an overdue account. Power was not restored until Wednesday afternoon, leaving tenants, including some seniors, without heat all night. The landlord, who lives in southern Ontario, told The Star the account was in arrears a grand total of $59.
While the tenants were not surprised the utility bill was in arrears - it's not the first time - they had no idea the power was going to be cut off and were unhappily surprised when it happened just as the mercury dipped to -30 C.
Many of the tenants have been wit**olding rent from the landlord pending improvements to the building following a massive flood last year. The landlord has, in turn, acted to evict the tenants. What not even he expected was that the utility would aid his cause by shutting off the power.
Meanwhile, the tenants, having decided to wit**old their rent, had no recourse. One spent the night in her car. Another lost wages trying to find a place for her children to stay. Another pointed out she'd love to move, but the rental market is so tight, there's nowhere to go.
This should never have happened, and the trail of blame is long and wide. The utility has the authority to cut off power to delinquent accounts, but told The Star it only does so when the city does not issue a cold weather alert.
On this occasion, the city did issue a cold weather alert, and still the power was cut. That was mistake No. 1.
Utilities manager Doug Reeves told The Star the tenants always had the option of paying the hydro bill themselves. But since it's not their account, they had no way of knowing it was in arrears (although they weren't surprised to learn it). Neither were they warned power was about to be disrupted. Thus, they could only have paid the bill after power had been cut off. That's mistake No. 2.
Some tenants resorted to burning candles for heat, the least efficient and most dangerous way to heat a space. Had the building caught fire, it would have cost the city far more than the outstanding hydro bill to extinguish the blaze, and it could well have cost lives. That's strike three.
So who's responsible for this mistake? Greater Sudbury council is the sole shareholder of the Greater Sudbury Utilities family. In fact, utility profits flow directly into the city's coffers in the form of dividends. Appointed city councillors control the utility's board of directors.
Indeed, power was only restored to the building within hours of the utility being contacted by The Star, apparently after Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriquez - a board member - intervened.
The City of Greater Sudbury put the lives of Sudburians in danger over a $60 overdue hydro bill. Council must explain why this happened, and assure citizens that it will never happen again.