Horizon Utilities

The shameful way in which this company takes advantage of the financial situation of Ontario Taxpayers is unbelievable.
Not only are we paying our taxes every year to keep this company and it's employees in the black, Then they choose to turn around and charge fees that no mormal working class household can't stomach. Their "security deposits" as they are so called are completely out of control. They charge more than $500 for these deposits. They realize that consumers could never afford such upfront fees so they spread them out over 3 billing periods. How nice of them. I didn't know we needed layaway to power our homes. The opportunism just disgusts me. Oh please don't forget if you ever have to pay by credit card it is a transaction charge of over $16. Move over money mart, Horizon Utilities is here. There is a lesson here in the fact that the Government has given this company and others so much power they do what they want when they want.

Where there is a lack of competition there lies an opportunity for lacklustre customer care, high prices, abuse, and poor service.

The former Hamilton Hydro, now Horizon Utilities, was created as a result of the pro-business, anti-consumer policies of the Mike Harris government. This is a legislated monopoly created on the backs of Ontario taxpayers who, for nearly a century, paid to build this and all utilities in Ontario. These assets are now used by the energy industry to make record profits while we suckers pay the debt load these culprits left in their wake.

Arranging service with Horizon is easy. As long as you have the money. if you're new in town or don't have a sterling payment record with them, be prepared to fork out a substantial deposit before they'll even hook you up. Also in play is that dreaded "connection fee". "What connection fee" you ask? Well, the fee for the person you are talking with to change the name on the bill from the person who used to live in your new place to your name. That'll be $30 please. And the deposit? well, in my case $280. And unlike private businesses with competition, these charges will not be waived. Period.

It's shameful the way our electrical energy system is run in Ontario. Horizon makes use of that to the hilt. It doesn't even matter that their customer service sucks, or that I'm writing this review for that matter.

If you live in Hamilton, you are forced to do business with this outfit. Good luck with that. And whatever you do, DON'T sign up for automated payments with this or any utility company. It gives them carte blanche in your bank account. Remember, they can call themselves anything they like. It still boils down to being a layer of government. It's bad enough they have their "hands in my pocket", no way their getting a direct siphon hose into my bank account.