Canada Post strike: Ontario utilities warn of penalties as millions await bills

The ongoing Canada Post strike is causing significant challenges for Ontario residents who rely on paper billing for essential services.

Millions of Ontarians who rely on paper billing for their utilities may find themselves in a bind as the ongoing Canada Post strike hits the one month mark.

With mail delivery at a halt since Nov. 14, customers of major utility providers, including Enbridge Gas, Hydro One, Hydro Ottawa and Toronto Hydro, will face the risk of late fees and service interruptions if they fail to keep their accounts up to date.

Those companies are urging customers to switch to e-billing, but there are still a significant amount of people who will be waiting for their bills in the mail, they say.

Enbridge Gas, which serves approximately 3.9 million Ontario customers, revealed that 30 per cent of their customers still use paper billing. In an email to Global News, they note that there has been just a two-per cent increase in online signups since the strike began.

“We’ve provided several convenient options for customers to access their accounts, including our mobile app, online portal, and telephone banking,” a spokesperson said.

The company has committed to waiving late fees “where appropriate,” but encourages customers to use its digital platforms to avoid penalties for missed payments due to the strike.

Hydro One, serving over 1.4 million customers in the province, stated that almost half of their clientele still rely on paper billing. On their website, they acknowledge the disruption caused by the Canada Post strike, and suggest people to switch to paperless billing.

For those who are unable to do so, the company has ensured to notify customers of statements by providing account balance updates through phone or its online customer portal. However, the utility made it clear that late fees may apply for unpaid balances.