Local churches, along with Centre Wellington Hydro and the Community Resource Centre are working
together to help families in our community.
Buy a Share the Light candle and help raise money for those who may be struggling to pay their
utility bills.
All money raised from candle sales will go towards a fund that will be administered by the Community
Resource Centre. Certificates will be issued that are payable towards a person’s hydro bill from this
fund. The Community Resource Centre has agreed to be responsible for administering and allocating the
certificates to a family/individual.
The Community Resource Centre is the front line agency in our community that deals with people who may
require some assistance from time to time in paying their utility bills.
These unique candles are made in Wellington County by local artisan, Sophia Fleck specifically for the
Share the Light program.
The Share the Light program is a partnership between Centre Wellington Hydro, the Community Resource
Centre and some locally based faith groups.
Over the past few years, Centre Wellington Hydro and the Community Resource Centre have been working
closely together to try and help our customers and their clients.
Our paths inevitably cross, since the customers who are having difficultly in paying their utility
bills are often the same people who require some form of assistance from the Community Resource Centre.
The Utility’s Role:
We certainly understand that no one wants to receive phone calls about money being owed; however, as a
locally owned LDC (electrical utility) we are obligated and mandated to ensure all accounts are paid and
kept up to date.
It is incumbent upon us to ensure that arrears and annual write offs are kept to a minimum, as these
costs are eventually spread across our entire customer base to be collected at a later date.
Many customers are not aware that the line items on the bill for the electricity, regulatory and a portion
of the delivery charges are strictly a pass through collection by the utility.
The only money the utility keeps to run their business is the distribution charge, which is only a small
percentage of the total bill.
The customer uses the electricity, we pay the IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator) for it
immediately; and then collect it back from the customer. It is important to remember that prior to the
customer receiving a bill from us; we have already paid for all of their consumption to date.
By the time a customer gets to the point of a possible disconnection for non-payment, we have already paid
the IESO for over 3 months of their electricity consumption.
While we have to ensure that we are diligent in attempting to collect all money that is owed to us, we are
still very sympathetic to customers who are struggling to meet their financial obligations.
The Community Resource Centre’s Role:
The Community Resource Centre staff is a group of trained professionals who work with a diversity of
people within our community.
They are knowledgeable about all of the applicable programs that are available, funding levels, and the
criteria that would determine eligibility. Consequently, they are best equipped to determine who requires
assistance and the amount of that assistance.
The Community Resource Centre has agreed to be responsible for administering and allocating the certificates
to the proper families/individuals.
It is incumbent upon us to ensure that arrears and annual write offs are kept to a minimum, as these
costs are eventually spread across our entire customer base to be collected at a later date.
The Program:
The Share the Light program is a community based initiative whereby local church groups and service clubs
promote and sell these specialty candles, with all proceeds going to a designated fund to help people pay
their utility bills.
The Partners:
Centre Wellington Hydro
Community Resource Centre
The Door
Centre Wellington Ministerial Association
The Candles:
These unique candles can be purchased at the following locations:
Community Resource Centre
160 St. David St. South
Fergus, ON
N1M 2L3
519-843-7000
Centre Wellington Hydro
730 Gartshore St.
Fergus, ON
519-843-2900
Please visit our website for future locations.
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