The Crown corporation with the Power Smart slogan is taking steps to become “Payment Smart.”
The power monopoly is looking for consultants to study accepting payments by debit and credit card on its website, according to a tendering document issued December 23.
“The BC Hydro customer strategy is to make it easier for customers to do business with BC Hydro,” said the document, which includes a January 15 deadline for proposal submissions.
“Customers currently have limited options to pay their BC Hydro bills which will ultimately reduce satisfaction as customer needs and expectations change.”
BC Hydro accepts payments at banks and credit unions and its websites via cheque, electronic funds transfer for large commercial customers, credit cards and in-person at ServiceBC-branded government offices.
The tendering document concedes that electric utilities whose rates are regulated cannot build the costs of credit card discount fees into rates.
“BC Hydro promotes the lowest cost payment options due to this factor and to ensure a fair suite of options accessible to all customers,” the document said.
BC Hydro reported $5.75 billion gross revenue and $581 million net income last year. Residential ($1.7 billion) and light industrial and commercial ($1.6 billion) were the biggest revenue streams.
Meanwhile, BC Hydro issued a December 21 request for proposals for a data analytics tool. It wants to demonstrate capabilities and benefits of data analytics for energy efficiency and load management for the commercial and institutional sector. The deadline to respond to this RFP is January 22.
The one-year contract would have three one-year options to extend.
