We offer tips and resources for property owners or managers with tenants that pay their own energy bills.
Tips & resources
Meter readings
Our billing is based on energy consumed as determined by meter readings. Move-in and move-out readings are very important because they are the starting point and ending point for your tenants’ accounts. A move may not be processed without a current meter reading.
For commercial buildings – If your property has a demand meter (general service medium or larger), a move cannot be processed until we reset the meter. Make an appointment with us to reset the energy meter when you let us know about a tenant move.
Vacant periods
When the property or unit is vacant, the property owner is billed. This is another important reason for in and out meter readings. We do not disconnect the power when a tenant vacates. If you don’t want any energy used while you are billed between tenants, you may shut off the main breaker after you have made sure it is safe to do so.
User pay policy
We have a user pay policy. Once a tenant has advised us that they have vacated the premises, the date the key was returned or left behind is used as the final date for the tenant account. We do not take lease agreements. These agreements are between you and your tenant.
Disconnected services
If a unit’s energy service has been disconnected due to non-payment by the property owner/landlord, we will not restore energy service for a new tenant until the amount owing is paid. Service restoration for shared water wells cannot be completed until the individual responsible for the account pays in full. For full summary of enforcement action available to us when accounts are unpaid, please see section 15.0.5(2) of the Manitoba Hydro Act.
Landlord and tenant disputes
If you have a dispute about the date once we have set up or finalized a tenant’s account, the date can be changed once we receive the condition report that was signed by the tenant confirming the date in question. If there is not a signed condition report available, this becomes a matter between landlord and tenant, and may be resolved with the help of the Residential Tenancy Branch.
Tenants that have come and gone
If we are advised of a tenant move-in only after they have already moved out, we are able to bill the tenant only if they contact us to take responsibility for the bill and provide us with their current address.
Multi-unit properties
If the tenant is required to take accountability for their unit’s energy consumption, it is the property owner’s responsibility to make sure that the electrical wiring and gas piping for each meter is only for the unit indicated. If there are other units or shared/common services, the property owner is required to take responsibility for the energy bills. Any agreement on responsibility for the energy bills is between the tenant and the property owner and any related disputes would be under the jurisdiction of the Residential Tenancy Branch.
Read more about customer policies on, payment and meter maintenance in the Manitoba Hydro Act.
Reporting moves
Let your tenants know they can provide their required information online with our moving form.
Landlord Express
Landlord Express makes it easier for landlords and property managers to let us know when a tenant moves and to manage electric and natural gas accounts for rental properties online.
With Landlord Express, you can:
- register your rental property online;
- report changes in responsibility for natural gas and electric services;
- access information such as estimated Equal Payment Plan (EPP) amounts and disconnections;
- initiate move-in and move-out information;
- enter final and initial meter readings.