NPEI Encouraging Customers to Stay Connected as Disconnection Ban Ends July 31

As the end of the electricity disconnection ban for customers is set to end on July 31, 2020, Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. (NPEI) is encouraging customers to connect with them.

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) extended the winter ban on electricity disconnections for non-payment by residential customers on March 19, 2020 due to the pandemic. The disconnection ban was originally scheduled to end on April 30, 2020, and was extended until July 31, 2020.

“We encourage any customer who is currently having difficulty paying their bills to contact us so that we may work together in order to find a solution,” says Brian Wilkie, President and CEO of NPEI. “This has been a difficult time for everyone and we are looking to assist our customers as the disconnection ban comes to an end.”

Wilkie notes there are a number of programs available to customers to assist them in paying their bills. The government recently announced the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) to support customers struggling to pay their bills. CEAP provides a one-time bill credit up to $115 for residential customers who qualify. CEAP applications are reviewed on a first-come-first-serve basis and will continue until the funds have been depleted. Applications and information on the eligibility for CEAP are available on the NPEI website.

NPEI is also working with customers by providing a number of flexible payment arrangements including the Arrears Payment Plan in order to allow customers more time to pay outstanding balances on their account, Equal Payment Plans, as well as providing information on Financial Assistance Programs, including the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) and The Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP).

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, NPEI’s doors will remain closed to the public at this time. While the office is not open to the public at this time, NPEI offers a number of methods to pay a bill including:

• Save time and money by having your payments automatically withdrawn from your bank account each month on the due date, with the pre-authorized payment plan.
• Online or telephone banking through most Canadian Financial Institutions.
• Through our "My Account" online portal, visit www.npei.ca to register.
• Mailing a cheque or money order with the top portion of your bill to the NPEI office.
• Using your Mastercard or Visa by visiting www.npei.ca or over the phone using our third party automated toll free system at 1-877-281-2063.  Please note that there is a third party processing fee and such fee is not retained by NPEI.

If you are experiencing difficulty in paying your bill and have been impacted by this pandemic, please stay connected to us...we are here to help! Customers may still contact our office byphone at 1-877-270-3938, email at info@npei.ca, online at www.npei.ca, along with registering for NPEI's online portal, My Account, that allows customers to view and pay current and past bills, request moves, update contact details, along with managing electricity consumption by viewing usage data, hour by hour, for any given day.  The Automated Account Balance Lookup is also available by calling 1-877-601-3899.

Links to Services:

LEAP: https://www.oeb.ca/rates-and-your-bill/help-low-income-consumers/low-income-energy-assistance-program

OESP: https://ontarioelectricitysupport.ca/

CEAP: http://npei.ca/customer-service/residential/covid-19-energy-assistance-program

Affordability Fund: https://www.affordabilityfund.org/