Hi, in Alberta (or North East edmonton specifically), the default carrier for gas utilities is Direct Energy. Yes, "Default" carrier. So what this means is if tenants doesn't pay their gas bills, its likely to go back to the landlord at full cost. Has this ever happen to you? It did to me. Unfortunately, the tenant has long been evicted.

If you have some experience this in mess, what did you do or is there anything to be done (??) in terms of explaining to Direct Energy that they should go after the tenant, not the landlord, as per residential lease.

Assuming nothing can be done, what is use of putting tenants on utilities. I believe this is only for Gas, since GAS can't be shut off , as the Direct energy agent tells me.

I guess the go-foward plan is to look at their monthly bills to see if they are paying it. whatever happened to "passive" investing. Fortunately, this is the first time in all my years of being a landlord (over 10 years).

Kir

Hello,
Please read the historical post on Direct Energy from this year. They are below, simply click on them to be brought to the posts/threads.
http://www.myreinspace.com/threads/utilities.36764/#post-170971
http://www.myreinspace.com/threads/direct-energy-utilities-question.35938/#post-166268

Have a great day.