Fake Rebates and Borrowed Permits: How to Check Your GTA Electrician Is Licensed

If you are hiring for an EV charger, lighting, or other home electrical work in Toronto and the GTA, a few verification steps matter more than a polished pitch. This Guide summarizes what those official releases said, then walks through how to check an ESA licence, why the permit should sit with the licensed contractor, and why "the government covers it" is a claim to treat carefully. When you are ready for a free quote from a contractor that pulls its own permits, Contact Electro Group Ltd. or call 289-814-7241.

What ESA and Peel Police Reported

ESA — permits-for-sale conviction (October 21, 2026). ESA reported that Aya Electric Inc. and its owner and Designated Master Electrician, Razi Khan, were fined a combined $122,000 under the Electricity Act, 1998 after an investigation into a paid arrangement in which the company obtained electrical permits for work performed by an unlicensed contractor. ESA said the unlicensed work involved six residential properties in Clarington, Brantford, Milton, and Markham. According to ESA, the company was fined $92,000 and Khan was fined $30,000 and placed on probation after they pleaded guilty in September 2026. ESA also stated that a Licensed Electrical Contractor's licence cannot be rented, loaned, or used to legitimize unlicensed electrical work.

Peel Regional Police — Project Circuit Breaker (October 2, 2026). Peel Regional Police announced that investigators had arrested and charged Rahyl Hassan, 39, of Brampton, following a Fraud Bureau investigation into alleged fraudulent electrical contracting services. Police said the accused's businesses provided services while allegedly failing to comply with provincial licensing and safety requirements, and that work included installations for electric vehicle chargers and LED lighting. Investigators further alleged that customers were promised government rebates that would cover a significant portion — and in some cases the full cost — of the work; police stated that no such rebate program existed. As of that release, police reported 12 known victims across Peel, Halton, and York. Charges listed in the release included defraud the public, false pretenses, utter forged documents, mischief endangering life, and possession of counterfeit currency. These are allegations before the courts unless and until proven.

ESA follow-up on the arrest (October 5, 2026). ESA confirmed it had referred concerns about potential criminal activity to Peel Regional Police and cooperated with the investigation. ESA also summarized prior regulatory history involving Hassan and Strak Holdings Inc., including licence revocation and earlier fines, and noted that additional ESA charges against named parties had not been proven and remained before the courts.

None of these cases means every contractor is a risk. They do show why verification is worth a few minutes before anyone opens a panel.

Why This Matters for Homeowners in Toronto and the GTA

Unlicensed or poorly supervised electrical work can create fire and shock hazards. Work that skips proper ESA notification can also complicate insurance and resale. The October cases add a second theme: sales pitches that sound like government help, and permit paperwork that looks legitimate on paper while the people doing the work are not accountable under Ontario's licensing rules.

You do not need to become an investigator. You need a short checklist: confirm the ESA contractor licence, confirm who files the permit, and treat sweeping rebate promises with caution — especially for home EV chargers and lighting jobs.

For a fuller verification walkthrough, see our Guide on how to verify a licensed electrician in Ontario. More Guides live on our Guides page.

How to Look Up a Contractor's ESA Licence

By law in Ontario, only Licensed Electrical Contractors (LECs) can be hired to perform electrical work in homes and businesses. Before you book:

1. Ask for the contractor's seven-digit ECRA/ESA electrical contractor licence number.
2. Check it on ESA's public Contractor Locator at FindaContractor.ESAsafe.com.
3. Confirm that the legal business name and licence number match the company that will show up at your door — not a different firm, and not a personal Master Electrician licence alone.

ESA's own consumer guidance is clear on a related point: an electrician's qualifications or a Master Electrician's licence alone are not enough if you are hiring a contractor. You want the Licensed Electrical Contractor listing.

Electro Group Ltd. is a licensed electrical contractor. Our ESA number is 7017939. Please look us up yourself before you hire — including us.

Why the Permit Should Be in the Licensed Contractor's Name

Licensing and permitting are related but not the same. Many jobs still require ESA Notification of Work (often called the permit) so the installation can be reviewed under Ontario's electrical safety rules.

The ESA permits-for-sale case is a reminder that paperwork in a licensed company's name does not automatically mean that company planned, supervised, and performed the work. ESA described a paid arrangement where permits were obtained for work done by someone who was not employed by the licensed company, had no electrical qualifications, was not properly insured, and worked without supervision from that company.

Practical questions to ask before you hire:

• Who files the ESA Notification of Work? On our jobs, Electro Group files it for the electrical work we perform.
• Who will be on site, and how are apprentices supervised?
• Does the name on the permit match the Licensed Electrical Contractor you verified?

ESA also lists consumer red flags such as a contractor asking you to file the Notification of Work in your name, saying you do not need one, refusing to give a licence number, or telling you to say you did the work yourself. If those show up, slow down and verify before anyone starts.

Our ESA permit Guide for EV charger work explains why the permit matters on charger installs.

Be Wary of "The Government Covers It" Rebate Pitches

In the Peel Police release, investigators alleged that customers were promised government rebates covering a large share — sometimes the full cost — of electrical work such as EV charger and LED lighting jobs, and police stated that no such rebate program existed.

That lines up with what we document separately for homeowners: as of late October 2026, we could find no current province-wide Ontario rebate for home EV chargers. Programs change, so always check official sources — and never treat a contractor's verbal promise as proof that funding exists. Read our Ontario EV charger rebate 2026 Guide for the current picture and the official links we checked.

Healthy questions when someone leans on rebates to close the sale:

• Which exact program, and which government page confirms it is open now?
• Does the incentive apply to a home charger or lighting job, or to something else (for example, a vehicle purchase or a shared/building program)?
• Will the quote still make sense if the rebate does not come through?

If answers are vague, or the pitch depends on a rebate you cannot verify yourself, treat that as a reason to pause — and go back to the ESA licence check.

How Electro Group Works

We are Electro Group Ltd., a licensed electrical contractor serving Toronto and the GTA. Our ESA licence number is 7017939.

• We take out the ESA permit and arrange the inspection for the electrical work we perform.
• We do not ask homeowners to "borrow" our licence or to paper over work done by someone else.
• For renovations, EV chargers, and generators, we provide free quotes so you can see scope before you commit.
• If you are planning a home charger, start with our EV charger installation page, then verify our licence and talk through the job.

We would rather you verify first than take anyone's word for it.

Soft Next Step

Checking a licence number and asking who pulls the permit takes minutes. Look up Electro Group Ltd., ESA #7017939, on ESA's Contractor Locator, then Contact us or call 289-814-7241 for a free quote on renovations, EV chargers, or generator electrical work across Toronto and the GTA.

If you suspect unlicensed electrical work or a Licensed Electrical Contractor failing to meet its responsibilities, ESA asks the public to report concerns at ESAsafe.com/ReportAContractor. For information related to Project Circuit Breaker, Peel Regional Police directed the public to its Fraud Bureau contact line in the October 2, 2026 release.

Electro Group Ltd. is a licensed electrical contractor in Ontario, ESA #7017939.

FAQ

How do I verify an electrician in Ontario?
Ask for the seven-digit ECRA/ESA contractor licence number and check it on ESA's Contractor Locator (FindaContractor.ESAsafe.com). Confirm the business name matches who you are hiring. Our step-by-step Guide is How to Verify a Licensed Electrician in Ontario.

What is a permits-for-sale or borrowed-permit risk?
ESA's October 21, 2026 release described a licensed company obtaining permits for work performed by an unlicensed contractor who was not employed or supervised by that company. Homeowners should confirm that the Licensed Electrical Contractor named on the permit is the one accountable for the work.

Is there an Ontario home EV charger rebate right now?
As of late October 2026, we found no current province-wide Ontario rebate for home EV chargers. See Ontario EV Charger Rebate 2026 and check official sources before you plan around any incentive.

What is Electro Group's ESA number?
Electro Group Ltd. is ESA #7017939. Please verify it yourself on the Contractor Locator before you hire.

Do you offer free quotes?
Yes — for renovations, EV chargers, and generators. Contact us or call 289-814-7241.

Ready to Hire with Confidence?

A quick ESA check plus clear answers about permits and rebates is a solid foundation for any hire. Call Electro Group Ltd. at 289-814-7241 or visit our Contact page to book a free quote. We serve homeowners across Toronto and the GTA.