The owner of two Red Deer condominiums figures she’s losing out on $160 to $200 a month because a government rebate program for utilities excludes her and about half of Alberta’s condo owners.
Karen Barrett is among those whose electricity bill costs are embedded in her monthly condo fees. Because she’s not individually billed for electricity, she is not getting government rebates.
Government officials previously stated it would be too onerous and time-consuming to figure out how much is being paid for just utilities monthly when these costs are sub-metered or wrapped into someone’s general condo fees.
But Barrett is urging the government of Alberta to fix its electricity rebate program. “As owners, we are paying condo fees that are inclusive so they go up and down with gas prices,” Barrett said, while the rents she charges for her condos are not flexible.
The Condo Owners Forum Society of Alberta is asking the government to create an application process so that condo owners whose utilities are embedded in their condo fees, can provide evidence of what their electricity bills are, and thereby qualify for rebates.
“We’ve been arguing this hasn’t been a fair program since it was announced in July,” said Phil Rosenzweig, the group’s treasurer. He noted being excluded from rebates is particularly hard on senior condo owners on fixed incomes who could really use the break.
He noted there are about 600,000 condo owners in Alberta and about half are not qualifying for utility rebates.
From 12 to 15 per cent of Red Deer’s property owners have condos, Rosenzweig estimated.
He is suggesting Alberta could model the program after a similar rebate for condo associations that has worked in Ontario since 2016.
On Friday, Affordability Minister Matt Jones told Edmonton media that his ministry is working on a way to provide rebates to people who are currently not getting them. No timeline was provided.
The Condo Owners Forum Society of Alberta, meanwhile, is encouraging condo owners who are left out of the program to start a letter-writing campaign.