HELP’S AT Hand, by North
Shore Community Services
(NSCS), is a forum for discussing
government policies and pro-
grams, benefits, consumer and
legal rights, taxation and public
services,

Answers are intended only as a
general guide and should not be
applied to individual cases without
further consultation.

Question: In a recent column
you talked about buying firewood.
1 have been burning a good deal
of wood but my gas bill is stifl ex-
tremely high!

How can I be sure that the bill
is accurate? Sometimes I don’t
trust that they are charging me the
tight amount.

Answer: Most of us take the

readings on our electricity and gas
bills for granted. It is wise to read
your bill carefully. You might also
want to keep your past bills on
file to compare your consumption.

If you are taking steps to reduce
your gas consumption and are not
showing any savings, there could
be a problem.

First, ask yourself if you may
actually have used more energy
than you thought. Turning up
your thermostat during cold
weather can use up a of
energy.

Sometimes, if the utility com-
pany is unable to take a reading
from your meter in person, the
bill will be based on an estimate
of the average amount of energy
used. This situation should resolve

fot

PNR FO ET STO ET TT

AND

itself the next time they take an
actual meter reading.

If you have doubts about the
accuracy of your meter or the bill-
ing, contact the utility company’s
customer service department, The
number should be listed on your
bill. Ask them to explain the bill-
ing to you. If you are not satisfied
with their answer, you can contact
the Electricity and Gas Division of
Consumer and Corporate Affairs.
Their number in the Lower
Mainland is 666-0837. Ask for an
inspector to investigate and
possibly test your meter. There is
no charge for this.

| This column is prepared with
financial assistance from the
Notary Foundation. For more in-
formation call NSCS at 985-7138.

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For adoption please call:

Doris Orr

West Van S.P.C.A.
North Van S.P.C.A.
Pets Limited

Aid to Animals

North Shore
Humane Society

987-9015
922-4622
988-7484

980-4007 /988-7461

929-2471

987-6282

Short-haired domestic, 4 yrs., neutered
male, black with grey, a lover boy

Domestic short-hair, white & black,
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North Shore Humane
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Terrier/Pom, neutered male, 8 years
full of beans

Long-haired, white

spayed
Doris Orr

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Tia

Lab/Shepherd, small, 40 lb., ears up,
18 mos. spayed, female, black & white
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Society

Golden Lab X, gold, 2 years,
spayed female, gentle.
Pets Limited

Main coon, female, spayed,
quiet & gentle
North Shore Humane Soci

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Chocolate Point Siamese <
declawed & spayed .

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Bik. Siamese X, long-haired tortiseshell, 4 yrs.

spayed females, love each oiher and people.
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