General Proposed Changes
Two-year fee schedule. Instead of a three-year fee schedule, we propose issuing a two-year fee schedule for 2024-2025. We have heard that some of you prefer knowing what the fees will be up to three years in advance. However, given the uncertainty of the economy, we opted for a two-year cycle, which will provide the flexibility to:
- Respond to the changing economic conditions. If the economy improves or worsens, we don’t want to be fixed for three years with a fee schedule that only serves today’s economic conditions.
- Improve how fees are structured. We’ve heard feedback that some fees are too high or confusing to understand, which is why we’re scaling electrical installation permit fees depending on job size. We’d like to continue to identify and resolve any concerns with process or structure, and a shorter fee schedule allows us to make those changes for you sooner.
If you have any ideas or concerns about specific fees, please tell us through our survey.
General fee increase. We propose a 7% increase to most fees in 2024, and a 4% increase to most fees in 2025. We are proposing changes to how we structure some of our fees, which means some fees may increase by more than 7% and others may increase by less.
Specifically:
- Certification evaluation and exam fees: We propose charging different fees for different modes of exams, such as taking a digital exam remotely or in person. These exam fees would be the same across all technologies. As a result, the fees in some technologies would increase by different amounts (some by more than 7% and others less). Read more details.
- Electrical installation permits: We propose scaling permit fees by reducing fees for lower value jobs and increasing fees for higher value jobs. Read more details.
- Administrative services rate: We propose charging the same administrative hourly rate across all technologies. As a result, the fees in some technologies would increase by more than 7% and others would be reduced. Read more details.
- Safety services rate: We propose charging the same safety services hourly rate across all technologies. As a result, the fees in some technologies would increase by different amounts (some by more than 7% and others less). Read more details.
- Design registration fees: We propose no increases to design registration fees at this time. We plan to consult on design registration program and service changes in the upcoming years, along with the associated fees. Read more details.
Credit card limits. We propose that all payments of $5,000 or more must be paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or by cheque. This will allow us to reduce overhead costs.
Late fees. We propose to change how we charge late fees. We are proposing a different penalty for overdue payments. While currently we charge a flat fee for late charges, we propose a charge of 5% of the balance owed + 1% of each full month past the due date. These late fees are to encourage timely payments and help recover the costs of unpaid invoices.
Removed: Change of ownership fees. We no longer charge a fee to transfer existing permits and accounts to new homeowners or business owners. We propose removing the change of ownership fees from the electrical and homeowner fee schedules (the only fee schedules that listed these fees).
