Under the new Energy Marketing and Residential Heat Sub-metering Regulation, landlords are not allowed to use a heat sub-meter to bill tenants unless the heat sub-meter is certified by Measurement Canada, under the federal Weights and Measures Act.  Currently, there are no heat sub-meters in Alberta certified by Measurement Canada. The new rules start Nov. 18 and apply both to existing heat sub-meters and new heat sub-meters.

If a heat sub-meter becomes certified in the future, landlords can use it to bill tenants as long as they clearly disclose:

• the sub-meter readings;
• the amount being charged for the energy;
• any amount being charged for administrative or other fees; and
• the method used to calculate these amounts.

If heat was previously included in the rent, starting to bill a tenant directly for heat is considered a rent increase.

“While developing this regulation, we got input from tenants, landlords, their representative organizations, and we also consulted with Measurement Canada,” Klimchuk emphasized.

“In principle, tenants paying for the actual energy they use is fairer and it rewards renters who conserve heat,” Klimchuk explained. “But renters deserve to have confidence that the devices used to measure their energy use are accurate and the amount they’re being charged is clear and understandable.”

An estimated 3,000 tenants across Alberta are currently being billed through the use of heat sub-meters.

More information on the new regulation is available at: www.servicealberta.ca