jswizzle3737/ontario_laws_and_regs huggingface dataset:
3 (1) A consumer who has an eligible account during a billing period is entitled to receive the financial assistance that is prescribed by the regulations in respect of the cost of electricity during the billing period in relation to the eligible account. 2019, c. 6, Sched. 4, s. 3. Exception (2) Despite subsection (1), a consumer is not entitled to receive financial assistance under this Act, (a) in respect of electricity consumed in generation station service; (b) in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the regulations; or (c) if the regulations prescribe that the consumer is not entitled to receive financial assistance. 2016, c. 19, s. 3 (2). Payment of financial assistance (3) The financial assistance to which a consumer is entitled under this Act shall be paid, (a) by crediting the consumer’s eligible account; or (b) in such other manner as may be prescribed by the regulations. 2016, c. 19, s. 3 (3). Money appropriated by the Legislature (4) The money required for the purposes of this Act shall be paid out of the money appropriated for those purposes by the Legislature. 2016, c. 19, s. 3 (4). No assignment of financial assistance (5) An assignment by a consumer to another person or entity, including a licensed retailer, of the consumer’s entitlement to any payment, rebate or credit does not apply to any financial assistance to which the consumer is entitled under this Act, whether the assignment was made before or after this subsection comes into force. 2016, c. 19, s. 3 (5). Same (6) Subsection (7) applies if, (a) a consumer provides to another person electricity in respect of which the consumer is entitled to financial assistance under subsection (1); and (b) an invoice for the electricity is issued to the person by the consumer, by an agent of the consumer or by a unit sub-meter provider providing unit sub-metering for the consumer. 2016, c. 19, s. 3 (6). Requirement to pass on benefit (7) Despite subsections (1) and (5), the consumer and every unit sub-meter provider providing unit sub-metering for the consumer shall ensure that each person who is liable to pay an invoice referred to in clause (6) (b) receives a credit, determined in the manner prescribed by the regulations, in respect of the financial assistance to which the consumer is entitled with respect to electricity the consumer provides to the person. 2016, c. 19, s. 3 (7). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2019, c. 6, Sched. 4, s. 3 – 01/11/2019
4 (1) Unless otherwise prescribed by the regulations, every electricity vendor who issues an invoice for a billing period to a consumer in respect of an eligible account shall ensure that the invoice meets the following requirements: 1. The invoice must clearly show, in the manner specified by the regulations if any, i. a credit equal to the amount of the financial assistance provided to the consumer for the billing period, and ii. the net amount of the invoice after the credit. 2. The invoice must be accompanied by the information required by the regulations. 2019, c. 6, Sched. 4, s. 4 (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. 2016, c. 19, s. 4 (2). No effect on entitlement (3) The entitlement of a consumer to financial assistance under this Act is not affected by any failure of an electricity vendor or person referred to in subsection (2) to comply with an invoicing requirement set out under this Act. 2019, c. 6, Sched. 4, s. 4 (2). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2019, c. 6, Sched. 4, s. 4 (1, 2) – 01/11/2019 Financial arrangements
6 (1) Despite any past entitlement of a consumer to financial assistance under this Act, no financial assistance is payable to a consumer after a limitation period prescribed by the regulations in respect of the consumer, other than in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the regulations. 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 a limitation period prescribed by the regulations in respect of the electricity vendor or other person, where such reimbursement is based on a consumer’s past entitlement not yet paid or reimbursed under this Act, other than in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the regulations.
7 In sections 8, 9 and 10, “Minister” means the Minister of Finance or such other member of the Executive Council to whom the administration of those sections is assigned under the Executive Council Act.
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. 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. 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. 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.
9 (1) The Minister may appoint one or more inspectors who are authorized to exercise any of the powers and perform any of the duties of a person authorized by the Minister under subsection 31 (1) of the Retail Sales Tax Act for any purpose related to the administration and enforcement of this Act. Same (2) Subsections 31 (1), (2), (2.1) and (2.2) of the Retail Sales Tax Act apply, with necessary modifications, with respect to the administration and enforcement of this Act. Admission of evidence (3) The Minister, or a person authorized by the Minister, may, for any purpose related to the administration of this Act or the regulations, reproduce from original data stored electronically any information previously submitted as required under this Act or the regulations in any form by any person, and the electronically reproduced document shall be admissible in evidence and shall have the same probative force as the original document would have had if it had been proved in the ordinary way. Inquiry (4) The Minister may, for any purpose related to the administration of this Act or the regulations, authorize any person, whether or not the person is an employee in the Ministry of the Minister, to make such inquiry as the Minister considers necessary with reference to anything relating to the administration of this Act or the regulations. Copies (5) If a book, record or other document is examined or produced under this section, the person by whom it is examined or to whom it is produced or any officer of the Ministry may make, or cause to be made, one or more copies of it, and a document purporting to be certified by the person to be a copy made pursuant to this section is admissible in evidence and has the same probative force as the original document would have if proved in the ordinary way. Compliance (6) No person shall hinder or molest or interfere with any person doing anything that the person is authorized by this section to do or prevent or attempt to prevent any person doing any such thing. Same (7) Despite any other law to the contrary, every person shall, unless the person is unable to do so, do everything he, she or it is required by this section to do. Administration of oaths (8) Declarations or affidavits in connection with statements of information submitted pursuant to this section may be taken before any person having authority to administer an oath or before any person specially authorized for that purpose by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, but any person so specially authorized shall not charge any fee for doing so. Application of Public Inquiries Act, 2009 (9) Section 33 of the Public Inquiries Act, 2009 applies to an inquiry under subsection (4). Recovery of overpayments
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. 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. 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.
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.
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.