By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

looking for more inclusivity

Alberta condo owners group wants change to electricity rebate program

Feb 4, 2023 | 3:23 PM

The Condo Owners Forum Society of Alberta (COF) is trying to get the province’s attention with respect to its electricity rebate program.

A new petition and letter-writing campaign has been launched just ahead of provincial budget day on Feb. 28.

The COF says the electricity rebate program announced by the Government of Alberta in March 2022 is flawed; but while condo owners applaud such a program, it isn’t accessible by all.

“We are reluctant to do this, but government inaction has left us no choice,” says COF Director Phil Rosenzweig.

“We know we can help the government address this inequity if they would only engage us and allow us to help. We are confident that the government always intended to treat all Alberta homeowners consistently.”

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Rosenzweig says the COF has attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to contact the minister via letter, email and phone, but haven’t gotten a response or acknowledgment.

The problem, according to the COF, is that many condo buildings have just a single electric meter, meaning those condo owners cannot benefit from the energy rebate.

“Condo owners deserve to be treated equally irrespective of what type or how old of a complex they choose to live in and to be treated the same as owners of single-family dwellings,” adds Rosenzweig. “In my condo, which has 124 units, this represents $66,000 that owners in his condominium currently cannot obtain.”

In a letter to Affordability and Utilities Minister Matt Jones dated Jan. 26, the COF thanks the minister for recent comments to media which indicate he is looking at possible changes. However, they lament the fact that no details of a refreshed program, including timing, have been released.

In a statement provided to rdnewsNOW Feb 4., Minister Jones’ press secretary Andrea Farmer says, “Minister Jones shares these concerns and has indicated publicly that the government is exploring options to expand the Electricity Rebate program to Albertans in sub-metered units. The department of Affordability and Utilities is currently evaluating options to provide this relief efficiently and tax free while also ensuring program integrity for both tax payers and the intended recipients. We will be reaching out to discuss this matter with the organization, and we look forward to updating condo owners and all Albertans in the coming weeks.”

The COF hopes changes include the following:

– Condominium Boards or Condominium Managers may apply, through a self-declaration, in agovernment or utility portal on behalf of the Condominium Corporation. This self-declaration would include the utility account number, a copy of the last electricity bill, and the number of residential or commercial units being serviced on that bill. A single self-declaration would allow the continuation of payments should the program continue.

– The rebate will be based on the totality of the program allowing the utilities to rebate or the Government to pay out a total of $500 to the end of March 2023 to the Condominium Corporation.

– Should the Natural Gas rebate come into effect, it should also be available to all residential buildings, regardless of the annual gigajoule usage, through a self-declaration either made at the same time or separately for natural gas utilities with payments going back to the Condominium Corporation.

The petition and letter-writing campaign can be found here.