Dear editor:
I am the owner of a small business and the manager of an apartment building on the North Island. I am, like many, a father, grandfather and husband in the same house. My time for anything is valuable and sparse.
Since the folks from BC Hydro came to town installing smart meters, I’ve been trying to reach Hydro. They cut off power to one of my suites and when I call the number suggested, I am told that due to the higher than normal call rates the wait time will be 45 minutes or longer!
I have tried mornings, afternoons and evenings. Always the same refrain: "Due to the higher than normal call rates your wait time will be 45 minutes or longer”.
After ten days, I submitted that this is normal. This is unacceptable.
At one point I received a call from Hydro on a line that offered them a second number to call, but they didn’t call it: they left a message for me to call them.
Guess what number they gave me? That’s right — “Due to higher than normal call rates your wait time will be 45 minutes or longer.”
I want to jump up and down and light my hair on fire. What else is a person to do?
Rick McRae
Port McNeill