Activation or modification fee
A fee tied to starting or changing a telecommunications service plan. CRTC rule changes are scheduled for enforcement starting June 12, 2026 for covered services and customers.
Glossary
Home bills glossary
Plain-English definitions for common Canadian household bill terms.
Base charge
A fixed charge that appears before usage or optional add-ons are counted.
Billing period
The start and end dates covered by one bill. Partial periods can make a first or final bill look unusual.
Bundle discount
A discount connected to buying more than one service together, such as internet and TV.
Delivery charge
A charge connected to delivering a utility or service, often separate from usage.
Early cancellation fee
A possible charge for ending a contract before its commitment period, subject to contract terms and rules that vary by service and circumstances.
Equipment rental
A recurring charge for rented equipment such as a modem, router, Wi-Fi pod, set-top box, TV receiver or DVR.
Equal billing
A billing arrangement that smooths expected utility costs across months, often with periodic true-up or adjustment.
Final bill
A bill after cancellation, move-out or account transfer that may include partial charges, credits, deposits or equipment-related items.
Fixed charge
A bill item that usually does not change with monthly usage.
Promo expiry
The date when a temporary discount or promotional price ends.
Renewal date
A date when a contract, plan, service, insurance policy, subscription or discount may renew or change.
Usage charge
A charge based on measured use, such as kWh, cubic metres, GB, minutes, units or service events.