To open a residential account with us, you will need to call our Customer Service office at 869-2771 .

The process is simple.

1. Please provide the following information for service requirements including 
   some form of personal identification, your telephone number, complete address (and your landlord's if applicable), and the date your service is to begin.
2. A security deposit will be required unless you had a hydro account previously, either with us or another hydro utility and had a satisfactory payment record. In this case, we may waive the deposit. See our Security Deposit Policy for additional information.

Security Deposit Policy 

Espanola Regional Hydro Distribution Corporation requires the following deposit and prudential requirements before providing a Customer with Distribution Services, supply through Standard Service Supply or through Distributor Consolidated Billing.

1. Except for Customers who meet the deposit waiver conditions described
   below, all Customers are required to either pay a security deposit or provide
   a guarantee to Espanola Regional Hydro Distribution Corporation for payment of all monies owing.
   
2. Security deposits must be in the form of (i) cash or cheque; or (ii) an irrevocable
   (standby) letter of credit, a bond or a letter of guarantee from a chartered bank,
   trust company or credit union; or (iii) a letter of guarantee from a reputable third
   party (i.e. parent company or customer of the Corporation whose account is in
   good standing with no greater than two late payment charges in the previous year.) Note: The following statement must be included on the irrevocable letter of credit: “It is a condition of this Letter of Credit that it shall be deemed to be automatically extended without amendment from year to year from the present or any future expiration date hereof, unless at least 30 days prior to the present or any future expiration date, we notify you in writing by registered mail that we elect not to consider this Letter of Credit to be renewable for any additional period.”
   
3. The amount of the security deposit will be calculated as follows:
   1. Residential Customer – the average monthly bill for the residence in question (over the most recent 12 consecutive months within the past two years) multiplied by 2.5.
   2. Non Residential Customer – in any rate class other than a <50 kW demand rate who has a credit rating from a recognized credit rating agency shall have the maximum amount of a security deposit reduced according to the following table:
      
      Credit Rating Allowable Reduction in Security Deposit
      (Using Standard and Poor’s Rating Terminology)
      

      AAA – and above or equivalent	100%
      AA-, AA, AA+ or equivalent	95%
      A-, From A, A + to below AA or equivalent	85%
      BBB-, From BBB, BBB+ to below A or equivalent	75%
      Below BBB- or equivalent	0%

      
      
4. A minimum of 25% of the required deposit must be paid before the service is
   transferred into the new customers name. The remaining 75% will be billed
   on the first three regular utility bills and must be paid by the due date of said
   bills or an immediate disconnection will be ordered.
   
5. Security deposits will be reviewed annually. Deposits will be increased at that time if a recalculation warrants same. Deposits will be returned to the Customer if it is proven that the Customer is now in a position to be exempt from paying a Deposit. Returned amounts will usually be credited to the Customer’s account.
   
6. Security deposits or guarantees may be waived if the following conditions are met:
   
   1. Residential customers provide evidence of a good payment record during the previous one (1) year which must have occurred in the last twenty-four (24) months with another distributor or gas distributor in Canada.
      Non-Residential customers in a <50 kW demand rate class provide a good
      record of five (5) years and customers in any other rate class provide a good record of seven (7) years.
      
      A good payment history excludes customers who have received more than one disconnection notice from the distributor, who have presented more than one cheque which has been returned for non-sufficient funds, have more than one pre-authorized payment has been returned for insufficient funds or a disconnect/collect trip has occurred.
      
   2. The Customer provides satisfactory credit check made at the customer’s expense.
      
7. Security deposits shall not constitute payment of an outstanding account, in whole
   or in part, and shall only be applied to amounts owing on an Espanola Regional
   Hydro account when the account is closed at which time any excess deposit funds
   will be refunded to the Customer. However, the Utility reserves the right to
   transfer a deposit credit to the customer’s new outstanding deposit account. The Security deposit will be returned within six weeks of the closure of the account.
   
8. The interest rate on cash deposits shall be at the Prime Business Rate less 2% and will be applied to the deposit, on receipt of the total deposit, on a yearly basis or on return or application of the security deposit or closure of the account, whichever comes first. Non-cash security (i.e. letter of credit) will be applied after the final-bill-due-date, if full payment is not received from the Customer. 
    

Moving Your Account

If you are moving to another address within Espanola, Massey & Webbwood you can change your account by calling our office at 869-2771 with the following information:

• your name, address and telephone number
• whether you are a tenant or owner
• your utility account number
• your new address and telephone number
• the final date the meter should be read at your existing address and the initial date the meter should be read at your new address
• account set up charge of $30.00 plus GST will apply

Closing Your Account

You can close your account by calling 869-2771 at least 2 working days prior to your move. We will need to know:

• your name, address and telephone number
• your utility account number
• whether you are a tenant or owner
• the final date on which the meter should be read, and what arrangements, if any, are required to access the meter. (Final reads Tuesday and Thursday Only)
• a forwarding address for your final bill
• the name of the new occupant or landlord if you are a tenant