Uncertainty persists around energy bills for tenants of the citys two affordable rental housing buildings in the former Olympic Village.
The city forgave all of the energy charges administered by Enerpro Systems Corp. for the citys neighbourhood energy utility until Aug. 31 after tenants raised concerns about the high bills for heat and hot water they received in addition to their bills from BC Hydro.
COHO Property Management, a spin-off of the Co-operative Housing Federation of B.C., told residents of the green buildings last week they would receive bills from Enerpro in October for their energy consumption starting Sept. 1.
Low-income senior Pam Burge says her BC Hydro bills are about $22 a month. Her May bill from Enerpro totalled $85.16 for the period starting April 7, when she moved in, to April 30. The bill listed $28 for the previous month, when she didnt live there yet, $12.50 plus tax for a basic charge, $34.63 for heating, $7.03 for hot water and $1.50 for cold water.
COHO Property Management told residents of the buildings Sept. 14 and 15 the basic charge would be reduced to $9.50 a month, the city would pay the HST and tenants wouldnt have to pay for cold water.
Big deal, Burge said. Were talking nickels and dimes.
She said other low-income tenants cant afford to pay the neighbourhood energy utility bills that were glossed over without adequate informed consent in lease agreements. Burge said a lawyer has advised her and other low-income tenants not to pay the bills.
Thom Armstrong, executive director of the housing federation, told the Courier before the meetings with tenants that an outreach worker would be hired until the end of the year, at the citys expense, to help tenants understand their energy bills.
Armstrong said Wednesday plans for an outreach worker were undecided because of mixed feedback from residents.
Armstrong expects tenants to receive a letter of clarification today (Sept. 23) or Monday.
Warren Walker is pleased his previous energy bills were forgiven. He moved in mid January and received a $190 energy bill from Enerpro for two months of heat and hot water for his approximately 550-square-foot one-bedroom apartment.
The two-inch gap in his door was fixed and the ventilation system that previously sounded like a jet airliner has been adjusted. Walker expects he wont have to crank the heat and sleep in extra clothes like he did last winter.
The 57-year-old, who suffered a stroke and gets around in a wheelchair, says COHO has been wonderful to him. Hes thankful for his home in the new development on False Creek but feels annoyed he has to pay $9.50 a month for a basic charge to Enerpro.
Armstrong didnt know what covering the energy bills cost the city or what hiring an outreach coordinator would cost. The city did not provide answers by the Couriers deadline.
Armstrong said the city has hired Prism Engineering to review energy use and costs in all of the buildings in the development. Its report is expected in October.
Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi
