TUKTOYAKTUK - If billing information used by the NWT Power Corporation is accurate, some people in Tuktoyaktuk had a very bright Christmas this year.

In fact, some residents said they found their power bills increased - even quadrupled - during the month of December, after new meters were installed.

Jerry Lennie, who works with the NWT Power Corp., said electricity meters have to be replaced every five or six years for government inspection. He said the new ones are nearly identical to the predecessors, so they should be accurate. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photo

One factor is a new Diesel rider, which is added to bills to help cover rising fuel costs.

But while the new charge is clearly marked on bills, some residents are saying the meters are wrong.

They say they are counting too many kilowatts per hour and causing higher bills - a claim the NWT Power Corp. strongly refutes.

Maureen Pokiak, who lives with her husband in a three-bedroom house in Tuktoyaktuk, said her electric bill increased from $111.64 in October and November to $400.53 in November to December, after a new metre was installed.

The next bill was $426 for December to January.

While her average consumption was listed as 578 kilowatts per hour before the new meter, Pokiak said it later registered as 1,016 and 1,155kw/h - a doubling she said she can't explain.

"I know it was Christmas and we plugged in a little bit more, but not a lot more," she said, adding her home is heated by wood stove and fuel oil.

Her only conclusion is that she's being charged for energy she didn't use, due to a faulty meter.

Jerry Lennie, who is customer service manager at the NWT Power Corp., said the company is investigating some complaints from Beaufort communities, including some from Tuktoyaktuk.

But he said it's extremely unlikely the meters are broken.

Even if they were, he said, they would slow down, not speed up.

"Our meters are pretty good, they are pretty accurate," he said, adding some people might be reading their bills wrong or underestimating their energy consumption.

Lennie added that all meters are replaced every few years for inspection, and that about 23 meters were changed in Tuktoyaktuk before Christmas.

Jackie Jacobson, the mayor of Tuktoyaktuk, has not taken a stance on the issue yet.

He said he and hamlet SAO Debbie Raddie were invited to a meeting with the Power Corp., to be scheduled next month, and he will talk to the NWT Power Corp. about the complaints.

"At that time, we'll see what will happen," said Jacobsen.