Many consumers find themselves in a situation where they are unable to resolve a disagreement with their energy company, or need assistance with negotiating a repayment contract for outstanding debt. In cases where consumers have exhausted all other options, the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) offers mediation services to help resolve these differences.
Some of the many services offered by the UCA Mediation Team include:
- Resolving issues with your retail provider or utility company.
- Explaining the differences between retail providers and regulated utilities.
- Providing advice about what the right choice for electricity and natural gas services, depending on the consumer’s specific needs.
- Answering common questions such as whether it’s advisable to sign a retail contract, what the current rate is for electricity and natural gas, and what options are available in a customer’s local area.
It’s important for consumers to understand that this is a useful resource that many Albertans have relied on. In October 2016 alone, more than 1,150 Albertans contacted the Mediation Team for information and advice about a range of issues, including customer service, contracts, billing, disconnection, and other concerns. In that same month, 100 people took advantage of UCA’s mediation services. In that period, the average length of time it took to close a case was five days.
For more information on UCA’s mediation services, visit their Contact a Mediation Officer page, or call UCA at 310-4822 (780-644-5130 outside of Alberta).
