Toronto Hydro Flat Rate Water Heater conversion

[Riffer]

My parents just received a notice that Toronto Hydro is phasing out flat rate billing for water heaters and wants my parents to pay for switching to the meter.

What's the story on this?

Why do my parents have to pay? It's Toronto Hydro's equipment.

Are there any alternatives?

[nornet]

You may be able to negotiate these fees if you tell them you are looking at a gas heater.

[Riffer]

That was my only suggestion to them. I suppose they will have to start pricing the various alternatives.

[ajalix]

I think you should really consider switching from electric to natural gas. I recenlty replaced my electric water heater to tankless gas with 94% efficiency and so far the difference was astonishing. During the summer months I normally use 42Kwh/day but since I've turned off the water tank I've monitored my hydro consumption changed to between 20-22 Kwh/day. It's my first time using gas and I'm basically using 2 cubic meters/day. I'm not entirely sure what my gas bill will be but from what I undestand it's not more than .25cents/ cubic meter.

[Riffer]

I think you should really consider switching from electric to natural gas. I recenlty replaced my electric water heater to tankless gas with 94% efficiency and so far the difference was astonishing. During the summer months I normally use 42Kwh/day but since I've turned off the water tank I've monitored my hydro consumption changed to between 20-22 Kwh/day. It's my first time using gas and I'm basically using 2 cubic meters/day. I'm not entirely sure what my gas bill will be but from what I undestand it's not more than .25cents/ cubic meter.

Thanks - It's interesting to see some numbers. I just had that discussion with the parents - price the two alternatives and use that as a negotiation point.

[pmc]

All the info is in the letter they sent.

http://www.torontohydro.com/electric...er_heater.html