Virden’s Hydro office is one of 17 rural outlets that will no longer accept bill payments in person as of Dec. 4.
According to figures from Manitoba Hydro, only 6.6 per cent of bills are being paid in person. That compares to about 24 per cent in 2007.
Hydro spokesperson Bruce Owen says the low traffic volumes don’t warrant having full time staff at a counter.
“The current trend is that more and more customers continue to move toward online payment services and other available payment options, such as through their bank or credit union.”
He added that no jobs will be lost at any of the affected outlets. Although no longer processing bill payments, local employees will still be available to speak to customers about other concerns.
Only one service counter in the province will remain open, the one at Manitoba Hydro’s headquarters on Portage Ave. in Winnipeg.
Owen says, “The discontinuation of in-person bill payment services is similar to steps taken by MTS about 15 years ago, SaskPower, SaskEnergy, and other utilities around the world.”
As of Dec. 4, these Hydro outlets will stop accepting in-person payments:
· Virden
· Arborg
· Ashern
· Brandon 10th Street
· Brandon Service Centre
· Dauphin
· Killarney
· Lac du Bonnet
· Morden
· Portage la Prairie
· Neepawa
· Russell
· Selkirk
· Steinbach
· Swan River
· The Pas
· Thompson
