This regulation defines “distribution tariff” and “owner,” lets an owner do billing services for a retailer in limited circumstances, allows direct charging for certain electricity-service costs, requires specific information on bills, and sets repeal, expiry, and commencement rules.
(Consolidated up to 55/2025) ALBERTA REGULATION 159/2003 Electric Utilities Act BILLING REGULATION, 2003 Table of Contents 1 Definitions 2 Billing services agreement 3 Direct charges by owner 4 Contents of retailer ’ s or owner ’ s bill 5 Repeal 6 Expiry 7 Coming into force Definitions 1 In this Regulation, (a) “distribution tariff” means a tariff approved by or filed with the Board under the Distribution Tariff Regulation ; (b) “owner” means the owner of an electric distribution system. Billing services agreement 2 For the purposes of section 106 of the Electric Utilities Act , an owner is authorized to carry out billing services on behalf of a retailer if (a) the retailer requests the owner to do so, and (b) the billing services are carried out in accordance with an agreement between the owner and retailer. Direct charges by owner 3 (1) If an owner (a) establishes a new line or connection for electricity services, or (b) provides a customer, at the customer’s request, with electricity services and not all of the costs of the services are recoverable from the customer’s retailer under the owner’s distribution tariff, the owner may charge a customer or any of the other persons referred to in subsection (2) directly for the difference between (c) the costs of establishing the line or connection or of providing the services, and (d) the amount of those costs that is recoverable by the owner from the customer’s retailer under the owner’s distribution tariff. (2) The owner may send a bill for the difference referred to in subsection (1) directly to any of the following: (a) a customer purchasing electricity services through a new line or connection or a retailer or other person purchasing those services on behalf of the customer; (b) a developer of land on which a new line or connection is established; (c) a retailer providing electricity services through a new line or connection; (d) a customer or other person requesting electricity services in the circumstances described in subsection (1). Contents of retailer ’ s or owner ’ s bill 4 A bill prepared by a retailer or an owner for a customer must (a) indicate separately the following credits or charges: (i) the amount charged by the retailer for electric energy, in dollars; (ii) the amount charged by the retailer for administration of the customer’s account; (iii) the amount paid to the owner under the owner’s distribution tariff for the account of the customer, in dollars; (iv) under the heading “local access fee” any amount levied under section 45 of the Municipal Government Act , or Schedule 1, section 21 of the Metis Settlements Act or by bylaw under the Indian Act (Canada), and must also include the name of the municipality, Metis settlement or band that will receive the levied amount, (b) include the customer’s site identification number or numbers as specified in the ISO Rules for load settlement, but if the retailer and customer agree, the site identification number or numbers may be provided in electronic format to the customer when the bill is sent to the customer, (c) specify the customer’s consumption of electric energy on which the charge referred to in clause (a)(i) is based, (d) specify the period for which each of the amounts referred to in clause (a) is calculated, (e) indicate the name and telephone number of the owner, or a person authorized by the owner to act on its behalf, to answer customer inquiries about distribution access service, and (f) include any information that is required by the Utility Commodity Rebate Regulation to be included in the customer’s bill. AR 159/2003 s4;60/2015;74/2022 Repeal 5 The Billing Regulation (AR 290/99) is repealed. AR 159/2003 s5;288/2009 Expiry 6 For the purpose of ensuring that this Regulation is reviewed for ongoing relevancy and necessity, with the option that it may be repassed in its present or an amended form following a review, this Regulation expires on April 30, 2030. AR 159/2003 s6;224/2012;60/2015;190/2020;55/2025 Coming into force 7 This Regulation comes into force on the coming into force of Parts 1 to 10 of the Electric Utilities Act , SA 2003 cE‑5.1.