Alectra waives late payment charges as part of its COVID-19 response

Utility company also donates $30K to Markham food bank on heels of 16,800 masks donated to 7 GTA hospitals, including Markham-Stouffville and Mackenzie Health

Yorkregion.com
April 16, 2020
Heidi Riedner

Alectra Utilities is waiving late payment fees for the next two months and donating $30,000 to the Markham food bank as part of the company's latest efforts to lessen the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I'm not even sure if the Markham Food Bank knows that yet," Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said yesterday after announcing the donation during a virtual meet with the mayor via Zoom, Facebook and Twitter links April 14.

The City of Markham is a shareholder in the utilities company, which is owned by seven municipalities, including the cities of Markham and Vaughan.

The company's latest announcements come on the heels of Alectra donating 16,800 N95 masks to seven GTA hospitals last week, including Markham-Stouffville and Mackenzie Health.

In response to questions raised why Alectra waited so long to make the donation, Scarpitti said the company had to ensure it maintained an adequate inventory for its own personnel when working on the electricity distribution grid.

"We don't want to put people, particularly the linespeople who are out there providing an essential service, at risk," Scarpitti said.

Alectra has implemented measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak to protect the health of the public and its employees while maintaining service.

In a statement, the company said it will work with customers "to provide flexible payment terms and will not disconnect customers during this time of uncertainty", adding several programs are available to those struggling to pay their bills because of financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of April 15, that includes waiving late payment charges for all residential and small commercial customers for a 60-day period, the company announced yesterday.

That equates to a double break for Markham since Alectra is responsible for both electricity and water billing.

"That is something that we have been working towards," Scarpitti said, adding the measure provides an extra layer of relief to off-peak hydro rates announced by the province March 24.

For customers having issues paying their bill, visit the website or call 1-833-ALECTRA