A recent push by Greater Sudbury Utilities to wean its customers off of paper billing has benefited NEO Kids to the tune of $50,000.
When GSU made the decision to switch to monthly billing in September 2016, they saw it as on opportunity to eliminate an estimated 350 bags of shredded waste paper each year by encouraging their customers to opt into electronic billing.
They launched a campaign called “Waste Less — Do More” with a pledge to donate $10 to the NEO Kids Foundation for every customer who made the switch away from paper.
GSU expected a modest 2,500 customers to make the switch. However, eight months later, nearly 4,200 hydro users — roughly 15 per cent of GSU's customer base — have dropped their paper bills.
The success of the campaign prompted the GSU board to dig a little deeper.
“We like round numbers and we like big numbers,” said GSU board chair and Ward 1 councilor Mark Signoretti. “So, at our last board meeting, we decided to top it up.”
So, a would-be $41,950 donation was rounded up to an even $50,000.
“This is an incredible commitment that GSU has made to the children in northeastern Ontario,” said Mick Weaver, board chair of the NEO Kids Foundation. “Thank you for being a leader that is willing to make a difference.”
Minister of Energy and Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault also joined in the announcement and admitted that he himself had yet to make the switch to a paperless bill.
“I'm gone quite a bit from home and so I was going through all the mail and guess what I see in there?” Thibeault said. “I went 'darn,' I forgot to sign up for paperless billing.”
Thibeault promised to make the switch immediately following the announcement and pledged a $100 donation of his own to NEO Kids.
“Guilt is a great way to get money,” he added.
