jswizzle3737/ontario_laws_and_regs huggingface dataset:
1 The purpose of this Act is to provide financial assistance in respect of electricity costs.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 1.
3 (1) For the purposes of this Act, the base invoice amount for a billing period in respect of an eligible account is determined in accordance with the regulations and, unless otherwise prescribed by the regulations, includes, if the invoice is issued by a licensed distributor or a licensed retailer, amounts in respect of, (a) the commodity price of the electricity; (b) the rates and charges set out in the applicable rate order issued by the Board under subsection 78 (3) of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 that are not required under subsection (2) or the regulations to be excluded; (c) any charges related to an assessment under section 26.1 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998; (d) any adjustment on the invoice required pursuant to section 25.33 of the Electricity Act, 1998; (e) any debt retirement charge payable by the consumer under subsection 85 (4) of the Electricity Act, 1998; and (f) the amount of harmonized sales tax payable under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) in respect of amounts that are included in the base invoice amount by reason of clauses (a) to (e) or the regulations.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 3 (1). Exclusions (2) Except as otherwise prescribed by the regulations, the base invoice amount for a billing period must exclude, (a) the balance of any amounts carried forward from previous invoices; (b) all penalties and interest; (c) any charges that do not relate to the consumption of electricity; (d) the fixed monthly service charge payable by a generation facility, within the meaning of section 56 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, that is classified as “microFIT” in a rate order issued by the Board under subsection 78 (3) of that Act; (e) charges labelled as “specific service charges” or “retail service charges” in the applicable rate order issued by the Board under subsection 78 (3) of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998; (f) the amount of any harmonized sales tax payable under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) in respect of amounts excluded from the base invoice amount for the billing period under clause (c), (d) or (e) or the regulations; and (g) any other amounts prescribed by the regulations.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 3 (2).
5 (1) Subject to the regulations, every electricity vendor who issues an invoice for a billing period to a consumer in respect of an eligible account shall clearly show on the invoice, (a) a credit equal to the amount of the financial assistance provided to the consumer for the billing period; and (b) the net amount of the invoice after the credit.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 5 (1); 2011, c. 9, Sched. 31, s. 1. Invoice issued by consumer, etc. (2) An invoice that is issued by a consumer, an agent of a consumer, a unit sub-meter provider or another person prescribed by the regulations must be in the form required by the regulations and contain or be accompanied by the information required by the regulations.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 5 (2). Transitional (3) If, for technical or operational reasons, an electricity vendor or a person referred to in subsection (2) is unable to adapt its invoices to comply with this Act and the regulations by the time it issues its first invoice in 2011 in respect of an eligible account, (a) the electricity vendor or person shall adapt its invoices as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than May 1, 2011; and (b) consumers continue to be entitled to receive the financial assistance to which they are entitled under this Act and may receive it as a lump sum credit on the invoice for the first billing period after the invoices have been adapted or by such other means as may be prescribed by the regulations.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 5 (3). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2011, c. 9, Sched. 31, s. 1 - 12/05/2011 Financial arrangements
6.1 (1) Despite any entitlement of consumers to financial assistance under this Act, no financial assistance is payable to a consumer after the date prescribed by the regulations in respect of the consumer, other than in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the regulations. 2016, c. 19, s. 16 (1). Reimbursement (2) Despite any requirement under this Act to reimburse an electricity vendor or other person for financial assistance provided by them to consumers, no amounts for reimbursement are payable to the electricity vendor or other person after the date prescribed by the regulations in respect of the electricity vendor or other person, other than in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the regulations. 2016, c. 19, s. 16 (1). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2016, c. 19, s. 16 (1) - 01/01/2017
7 In sections 8, 9 and 10, “Minister” means the Minister of Revenue or such other member of the Executive Council to whom the administration of those sections is assigned under the Executive Council Act.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 7.
8 (1) Every electricity vendor and every person prescribed by the regulations shall keep at a location in Ontario such records as are necessary to determine and verify compliance with this Act and the regulations and any records required by the regulations to be kept.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 8 (1). Electronic records (2) If a person keeps records in an electronic form, the person shall ensure that, from the time the records are first made and for as long as they are required to be retained, (a) they remain complete and unaltered, apart from any changes or additions made in the normal course of communication, storage or display; and (b) they are capable of being printed and of being produced in electronically readable format for inspection, examination or audit.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 8 (2). Retention of records (3) Records required to be kept under subsection (1) shall not be destroyed unless authorization has been given in writing by the Minister.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 8 (3). Offence (4) Every person who fails to keep records in accordance with this section is guilty of an offence and, on conviction, is liable to a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $5,000.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 8 (4).
12 (1) Every person who engages in any of the following acts or omissions is guilty of an offence: 1. Making, participating in, assenting to or acquiescing in the making of a false or deceptive statement in any document or answer required or submitted under this Act or the regulations. 2. Destroying, altering, mutilating, hiding or otherwise disposing of information or records of an electricity vendor or other person, for the purpose of evading compliance with this Act or the regulations. 3. Making, assenting to or acquiescing in the making of a false or deceptive entry of a material particular in a record of an electricity vendor or other person required to maintain records for the purposes of this Act. 4. Omitting to make or assenting to or acquiescing in the omission of an entry of a material particular in a record of an electricity vendor or other person required to maintain records for the purposes of this Act. 5. Wilfully evading or attempting to evade, in any manner, compliance with an obligation under this Act or the regulations.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 12 (1). Penalty upon conviction (2) A person convicted of an offence under subsection (1) is liable to either or both of the following penalties in addition to any other penalty assessed under this Act: 1. A fine in an amount that is not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000. 2. Imprisonment for a term of not more than two years.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 12 (2). General offence (3) Every person who contravenes, by any act or omission, a requirement imposed under this Act is guilty of an offence and, on conviction, is liable, where no other penalty is provided for the offence, to a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $5,000.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 12 (3).
13 A proceeding to prosecute an offence under this Act must be commenced within six years after the date on which the matter of the offence arose.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 13.
14 Fines imposed on conviction of an offence under this Act are payable to the Minister of Finance on behalf of the Crown in right of Ontario.  2010, c. 26, Sched. 13, s. 14.