Clients are launching a class-action law suit against Hydro-Quebec over faulty billing due to the power utility's new customer service computer system.

Hydro installed the new system at a cost of nearly $500 million two years ago, and since then clients have seen irregularities in billing.

The clients most affected are those who use the equalized payment plan, which spreads the annual cost of electricity over 12 equal payments to avoid huge bills in the winter.

One client involved in the class action, which is awaiting approval from the courts, did not receive a bill from Hydro from October, 2008 to June, 2009. When she finally received a bill it was for $822, but Hydro told her not to pay it until the utility could figure out the problems with the network.

Then, this past July she received another bill for nearly $4,300, which included administration fees.

The class action suit alleges that Hydro received 160,000 complaints on its billing since the new system was put in place in 2008.

The law firm of Paquette and Gadler, which is handling another class action against Hydro that was approved this summer, will be handling this one as well.

For more information, people can visit Paquette and Gadler's website at www.paquettegadler.com.