Owning a seasonal or vacation property has different utility requirements than a property that is occupied full time. There are several things to take into consideration when opening or closing the property for the season.
Opening for the season:
- If utility reconnection is needed, make sure to set up these appointments well in advance as it can often take several weeks to get an appointment. There is often reconnection costs associated with this process.
- Do a routine maintenance check on appliances to ensure they are in good working order. This includes water heaters, furnace, air conditioning unit, and all other appliances using electricity, natural gas, or water.
- If water services have been shut off, turn them back on and check for any leaks. Run the dishwasher and washing machine to ensure everything is working properly. In bathrooms, check toilets and sinks, and also check the sinks in the kitchen. It may be a good idea to run the water for a little while to clear any build up in the pipes.
- If electricity and natural gas services are already set up, make sure to test appliances and lights. Try the different light switches and check the pilot lights on any natural gas appliances.
Closing for the season:
- Winterize all pipes to prevent freezing. Not properly winterizing pipes can cause damage to property and be very expensive to repair.
- Unplug appliances no longer needed, including fridges, televisions, and air conditioners. Be sure to empty fridges and freezers if they are being unplugged for the season.
- Turn down the thermostat to a level that maintains a safe temperature through the cold winter season.
- Seal gaps around windows and doors to prevent cool air (and critters) from getting in.
- Consider installing motion sensing lights or setting up a timer to have lights come on periodically in the off season for security reasons.
Turning of electricity and natural gas for the season
Consumers have a few options to turn off the electricity and natural gas services to a property for a season:
- Breakers and water can be turned off at the main but leave the services running to the meter. This will end consumption, but consumers will still receive a monthly bill for the non-energy costs such as transmission and distribution charges.
- Disconnect services at the meter by contacting the retailer. However, the property may be subject to idle billing charges. These charges are levied by the distributor to recover the costs to maintain the transmission lines and to keep the site connected to the provincial power grid.
Note: If natural gas has been disconnected for more than six months, a gas permit may be required prior to reconnection. A bonded and licensed contractor must be contracted first to assess the gas line. This inspection can be costly and is the account holder's responsibility.
Salvaging a site
If consumers don't want to pay idle billing charges, they can request the distributor salvage the equipment at the property. This means the distributor will physically remove the meter, power poles and power lines, and the property will no longer have access to the power grid.
Salvaging a site is a lengthy and costly process that is usually only done when there are no plans to use electricity at that property again. There are costs associated with salvaging and reconnecting a site. These costs can be extensive and should be weighed against the costs of maintaining idle/non-energy billings.
