In September, the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario (ACMO) advised its members of a Hydro Rebate program that would come into effect on January 1, 2017, but some questions remained surrounding the eligibility of residents to receive the rebate.

The issue of the Hydro Rebate began following a speech from Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne in September that promised a reduction in the cost of electricity bills. According to the Premier’s speech, starting January 1, 2017, residences and small businesses would be able to take advantage of a rebate offer in an amount equal to the eight per cent provincial portion of the HST on their hydro bills.

At the time, some questions surrounded how condominium residents and corporations could track and claim the rebate. In response, ACMO consulted with the government to answer those questions. According to the association, condominium residents are eligible for the rebate, and the process by which the rebate is claimed is automatic and should be seamless.

“The rebate will automatically be applied to resident bills and your bill statements and there is no action needed on your part,” said Dean McCabe, a member of ACMO’s Board of Directors, in a press release. “Condominiums who use third party billing services and sub-metering providers should review your bills to ensure that the local electricity utility implements the provincial rebate by the July 1, 2017 deadline set by the Ontario Energy Board.”