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

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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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