To protect the privacy of certain individuals the names and identifying details have been changed.
Quinton Mulroy and his family have lived in their neighbourhood for over ten years. He and his wife, Sharon, chose to sign an energy contact three years ago when a utility company had a sign-up promotion.
Quinton and his wife were no longer happy with the service from their utility company. At work one day, Sharon’s co-worker told her how the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) helped his widowed mother. Her utility company had charged her for updating the name on her account after her husband had died. However, with the UCA’s help, she was able to have the fee waived by her utility company. Sharon told Quinton about the UCA that evening. She thought they should contact the UCA for advice about choosing a utility company after their current contract ends.
The next morning, Sharon called the UCA and learned about the Cost Comparison Tool. By simply entering her postal code, Sharon was able to see all the utility companies in her area. She also viewed the Mediation Summary Report published monthly by the UCA to see which companies have the most issues and mediations.
Sharon shared the information with Quinton. Together, they chose a retailer who managed to save them over $300 per year and required less mediation than their current retailer.
The next week, Quinton overheard a co-worker complaining about his utility bill. He told him to contact the UCA for help
Tip:
Visit ucahelps.alberta.ca to use our interactive Cost Comparison Tool. You can also view our monthly Mediation Summary Report to help ensure you are making an informed decision that works for you.
Our mediation team is available Monday – Friday from 8:15 am – 4:30 pm for information and advice.