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Rate Schedules and Policies

RSP F-1
F. Billing and Payments

Metering Procedures

Maritime Electric does not permit the initiation of a multiple metered account that sums two or more metering points. For all new customers, each metering point is a separate account. If an existing multiple metered premises requires a new service, reconnection or upgrade for any reason (including a change in ownership), each meter will be billed as a separate customer account.

When new buildings are constructed for services that combine a business operation and a dwelling, owners must provide for the installation of separate meters. When major alterations are made to buildings or the wiring of buildings already containing combined service, owners must provide for the installation of separate meters.


Unmetered Service

If, in the opinion of Maritime Electric, metering is not practical and usage of electricity is uniform and can be easily estimated, customers may be provided Unmetered Service. In such cases, no metering device is employed to record either the demand or energy.

The Bill

Every bill for metered service will show the last date the meter was read or estimated, the number of days in the billing period, the number of kilowatthours (and the demand, if any) and will identify the appropriate rate category.Maritime Electric will assist customers in checking the amounts indicated on their bills when requested to do so.


RSP F-2
Billing and Payments

Estimated Billing

Maritime Electric normally reads Residential and Small General Service Customers' meters every alternate billing period. An exception is Residential Service to Seasonal Customers, where consumption is estimated at zero for the months in which the meters cannot be read.

For all other metered customers the meters are read every billing period. An estimated bill may be issued for any billing period in which any of the following has occurred:

  • Maritime Electric has taken appropriate and reasonable measures to read a customer's meter but cannot gain access to read the meter;
  • The customer has denied acceptable access to Maritime Electric's representative to read the meter; or
  • Circumstances beyond Maritime Electric's control make an actual meter reading very difficult.
Estimated bills are payable in all respects as if they were based on actual meter readings.


Establishment of Rate Category

The customer will inform Maritime Electric regarding the use of the service. Based on this information, Maritime Electric then establishes the applicable rate category.

Any customer whose use of service changes such that the customer is subject to a different rate category will notify Maritime Electric of this change. Maritime Electric will then determine the applicable rate category and backbill or refund the customer.


Payment Terms and Late Payment Charges

All bills for service are due when rendered and are subject to a late payment charge when payments are received after the date specified on the bill. The late payment charge is calculated on the amount unpaid as of the date of the next billing except for Large Industrial Customers. Late payment charges are not prorated.

For Large Industrial Customers the late payment charge is calculated on any amount unpaid 30 days from the date of issue of the bill and is computed from this issue date to the date of receipt of payment.Accounts are in arrears if there is greater than a zero balance at the date of the next billing. Late payment charges are listed in Section O - Fees and Charges, Late Payment Charges.

RSP F-3
Security Deposits

Metering Accuracy

If a difference of opinion arises regarding the accuracy of the metering equipment, and Maritime Electric and the customer are not able to resolve the dispute, then either Maritime Electric or the Customer may request that Measurement Canada conduct an accuracy test in accordance with the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act R.S.C. Ch. E-4. If the customer initiates the request, it will be in writing.

If the test results indicate that the meter accuracy is not within the allowable limits as set out in the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, the customer's account will be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

If the test results indicate that meter accuracy is within allowable limits and the customer initiated the request, the customer will be charged a service call fee specified under Section O - Fees and Charges, Service Call Fees. If the test results indicate that meter accuracy is within allowable limits and Maritime Electric initiated the request, no service call fee will be charged.

Maritime Electric will ensure that any billing error is explained to the customer and corrective action is taken.

Billing Errors, Rebates and Back Billing

If a customer has been overbilled, Maritime Electric will reimburse the difference between the amount billed and the amount the customer should have been billed.Customers will be compensated at the Bank Prime Lending Rate (based on the weighted average monthly prime rate). Interest is compounded monthly.Customers underbilled as a result of their illegal acts or willful damage or interference with equipment used to record the consumption of energy, as backbilled for the full error over the time the error is deemed or determined to have existed. In all other cases, the backbilling is limited to six months.The provisions of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act R.S.C. Ch. E-4 apply in the implementation of backbilling.


The Goods and Services Tax


The Goods and Services Tax applies to all rates and charges in Sections N, O-1, and O-2, with the exception of Late Payment Charges in Section O-2.

The Goods and Services Tax applies to the amount of contribution to be paid by the customer, based on the rates and charges in Sections O-3 and O-4.