Summitt Energy Arthur Anikin misleading, outright lying, pushy Mississauga, Ontario

Just thought I would help out all other electricity and gas consumers in the Hamilton area with a company rip off that goes back 4 years now. Summitt Energy's then Manager, Arthur Anikin came knocking at my door one day (ignoring my sign on the mailbox for no soliciting/agents etc...) I was polite and told him that I didn't purchase anything at the door, but he assured me I would be making a very cost effective purchase in the event that prices went up on gas and electricity.

Being a single parent on a very fixed income with 2 children starting college in a couple of years, I thought I'd check it out. At the time, I had no idea how much difference the price was from what I was already paying. I was assured that if the prices went down, so would theirs and that if the prices went above what I was paying, my rate was protected. I had no idea I would be paying for this price fluctuation by this Provincial Benefit. Even in their contract, it was explained as a government REBATE but I am being charged at least $30.00+ per billing period on my electrical bill for this BENEFIT. It certainly isn't a benefit to me.

Besides all the obvious differences in their contract and what I was being told, I signed up with the option to CANCEL or think it over. This was November 2006. On Dec. 4th, I received a call from Gail to say that they hadn't heard from me. I told her that I had thought it over and wasn't interested. She assured me that I should wait until I had received my bill so I would know for sure. Little did I know that once she hung up the phone, I was locked in for the 5 years. That was all they needed to do to prove that the contract was REAFFIRMED as in the written agreement given to me at the door. I did not contact them again until March 24th/07 when I got my first SHOCK. My hydro bill was unbelievable! I called and spoke to Tamara who told me that if I canceled now, I would have to pay a $1500 penalty to get out of the contract. When I said that Gail told me that I had up to 60 days to think it over from the time I spoke to her, they reminded me that it was now over the 60 days. I had waited to see my first bill from the company and because I get billed every 2 months from Horizon Utilities, I had missed out on the deadline.  Anyhow, to make a really long story shorter, I thought I'd check things out on-line with the OEB consumer calculator to find out what I would have paid in Electrical and gas bills if I had just continued as before with Horizon Utilities supplying electricity and Union Gas supplying natural gas.

In 2010 from January to November, I have paid $1765.40 for electricity charges which is $587.71 more than I would have paid with Horizon (this includes the Provincial Benefit which was supposed to be a REBATE not expense). By the way, my fixed price was supposed to be 9.85cents/Kwh but I'm being charged 10cents/Kwh.

For the gas bill, from January to October, I have paid $1224 (equal billing plan) $427.74 more than if I were using Union Gas only. Summitt's price is 31.9047cents/m3 whereas Union Gas is 13.18cents.m3 (so where is my price benefit?). Stated in the last paragraph of their contract is the following .....
"Explain how I benefit with Summitt when prices rise or fall.
Summitt's Price Protection Program includes a free Blend & Extend option, meaning as electricity and natural gas prices rise, you the consumer benefit from the difference between your low cost protected price and the rising market rate. In the unlikely scenario where Summitt's protected price offering should fall, Summitt will, at your request and on your anniversary date, blend in your existing price and remaining term with our posted price, giving you extended price protection at a reduced price."
What a bunch of BS. At no time has my price been a bargain in the past 4 years. In fact with the amounts I have paid over and above what I would have paid had I just stayed with my own two utility providers, (and this is a rough estimate based on this year) I could have paid my son's tuition costs for the past 2 years. $587.71 extra elec.+ $427.74 extra gas= $1015.45 X 5 year contract= $5077.25 By the way he is taking Electrical Engineering.

You can be absolutely sure that this is one contract that WILL NOT BE RENEWED. I will be sending them a copy of their contract along with my calculations on the extra expenses that their supposed "better rate protection" has cost me.

Word to the wise..... DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you sign a contract and don't let anyone bully you into signing a contract or telling you that it is a done deal and that you are locked in when you are not. Send them a copy of your calculations if you have to and let them know in writing (keep a copy) that you DO NOT want to reaffirm the contract and that you are NOT agreeing to its terms.

Good luck to you all. A very expensive lesson learned for me!!!!