Utility disconnection

Still no end in sight for the building permit. So I started with utility disconnections. So I have water, electricity, and natural gas to disconnect.

Water is easy, one call to the city’s water meter office, they scheduled me a date, someone will need to be on site to provide access to the water meter and that’s it.

For electricity, I called Toronto Hydro. They emailed me a form for me to sign and complete. Then they told me it is estimated that on September 19, they will be there to cut the power and remove the meter. There does not need to be anyone on site for this.

For natural gas I have two issues. First the hot water heater is rented from LiveClean which is later taken over by Reliance. Reliance told me that the previous owner signed a 10 year contract with LiveClean starting February 2012 and it will cost me a total of $700 + tax to terminate the contract and have someone come to remove the tank. To buy out the tank, it would cost me a whooping $1310 + tax. I looked up the hot water, and it isn’t even a high efficiency one. Just a normal power vented tank. So I’m cancelling the contract.

For natural gas distribution, I called Enbridge. The process is complicated. They will come and lock my meter in 3 business days and provided me with a final bill. Then they will send a quote in 10 days on the cost to cut off the natural gas service. And that it may take up to 44 days to get my natural gas service terminated. Really? 44 days? Had I known that, I would have applied for utility disconnection much earlier.