Your Role
When a EX/PX field rep contacts you, he or she will ask for some information about who lives in your home. Be sure to provide accurate answers and mention any special needs that could be important in an emergency. For example, let us know about anyone in your home who has the following:
- language barriers – such as a recent immigrant with little English,
- mobility problems – such as a person in a wheelchair,
- physical disabilities – such as a person who is deaf or a senior who needs an oxygen tank, and
- psychological disabilities – such as a child with autism.
The field rep will leave a small information package with you. Take the time to read it and keep it somewhere handy. And if you have questions about that visit or the ERP for your area, just give us a call or send an e-mail. We’ll take the time to discuss your concerns with you.
Some common issues residents have brought up are listed below:
You’re taking up my time—what’s in it for me? You mean, besides trying to make sure you’re safe in an emergency? Well, we’ve streamlined this process so it doesn’t take much time and we don’t leave much that you have to read. We realize we’re not the only people who have hectic lives! We just want to give you the info you need to be safe, and that you’re entitled to.
You asked me all this before—why are you here again? You may find that we contact you more than once. Don’t worry—we don’t have amnesia! Sometimes there are several energy facilities or activities in progress in your area and by law we have to get in touch with you every time. That way, if something has changed in your situation, we won’t miss it.
What if no one’s home when your rep comes? If you’re not there, we’ll try again. And if you’re still not there, we’ll talk to your neighbour—perhaps you’re just on vacation. We’ll leave a package for you in your mail and try to follow up with a call. We always make quite a few attempts to get in touch with you.
Why do I have to give info about my kids’ school? If there’s an emergency, someone needs to be able to get in touch with your child’s school and let them know. For example, road blocks may affect the bus route. The school can then use their own ERP and make sure your kids are taken care of.
I don’t like giving out private information—what do you do with it?We collect your info only for the purpose of the ERP. Don’t worry—we don’t sell it to telemarketers! In fact, not even everyone who gets a copy of the ERP gets the info, only those who specifically would need it in an emergency. Then, once that ERP is completed and no longer needed, we remind our clients to go into shredding mode and collect and destroy this kind of private data from that ERP. If you want to know more about your privacy rights, you can check out the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada for your province.