Fredericton Man Discovers He Was Paying His Neighbor’s Power Bill for Nearly 2 Years

A Fredericton man, Bob Gibson, was shocked to learn that for nearly two years, he had been paying for his neighbor’s power bill. After noticing unusually high energy bills, Gibson began investigating, even replacing appliances and adjusting his thermostat, but nothing seemed to help.

The Discovery

The issue began when Gibson’s power meter was replaced in late 2023. His power consumption started rising, but he initially didn’t notice any drastic changes. However, by the winter of 2023-2024, the high usage became more evident, prompting Gibson to inspect his heat pump, thermostat, and other appliances.

Despite these efforts, his bills continued to climb, and in February and March 2025, Gibson’s bills exceeded $600—even though he and his wife had been away, with all major appliances turned off to save energy. Gibson became increasingly frustrated and suspicious.

The Breakthrough

After further investigation, N.B. Power sent a technician to assess his meter. It was then that the issue was identified: Gibson had been paying for his neighbor’s bill due to a mix-up with the meter number. The technician quickly discovered that the meter number on Gibson’s account didn’t match the one on his meter.

N.B. Power’s Response

Phil Landry, the director of N.B. Power’s project management office, confirmed that such errors are rare but can occur during the smart meter installation process. He assured that N.B. Power has procedures in place to prevent these mistakes, including verifying meter installations with photos and checking for consumption irregularities.

Landry also explained that once an error is identified, the utility works closely with customers to correct the issue and resolve any outstanding concerns.

The Compensation

After the issue was resolved, N.B. Power issued Gibson a credit of $5,000, which was later adjusted to $3,775 based on his actual consumption for the year. However, Gibson expressed dissatisfaction with the process, feeling that N.B. Power did not adequately follow up or maintain clear communication throughout the issue. He continues to request a detailed breakdown of his actual consumption over the last few years.

Ongoing Frustrations

Despite the compensation, Gibson remains frustrated by the situation. “It’s disturbing and upsetting,” he said, particularly given the energy-saving efforts he made while away. He believes that N.B. Power could have been more diligent in monitoring and addressing the issue.

Have you ever experienced an issue with high energy bills or billing errors? How did you resolve it, and what advice would you give to others facing similar situations?

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-power-meter-mixup-1.7566532
• https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6805932
• https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/a-fredericton-man-was-perplexed-by-his-high-power-bills-he-was-paying-the-wrong-bill/ar-AA1HeFn1