Company fined for unlicensed electrical work done across southern Ontario

An Ontario company was found guilty in a permits-for-sale scheme that enabled unlicensed electrical work in homes across southern Ontario.

Aya Electric Inc. and its owner and Designated Master Electrician, Razi Khan, were convicted for their involvement in the scheme, the Electrical Safety Authority said in a press release.

The Electrical Safety Authority said their investigation uncovered a paid arrangement in which Aya Electric Inc. obtained electrical permits for work performed by an unlicensed contractor.

Aya Electric obtained permits for electrical work at six residential properties in Clarington, Brantford, Milton and Markham, the ESA said.

Khan collected payments for the permits while an unlicensed contractor carried out the work, the ESA said.

The ESA said the contractor was “not employed by Aya Electric, had no electrical qualifications, was not properly insured and worked without supervision from the company or Khan.”

In September 2026, Aya Electric and Khan pleaded guilty to offences under the Electricity Act, 1998. The company was fined $92,000, and Khan was fined $30,000 and placed on probation. ESA is currently reviewing the matter and considering whether further administrative action is warranted.

In its sentencing reasons, the Ontario Court of Justice characterized Khan’s conduct as deceptive and bordering on fraud, noting that he charged more than twice the cost of an ESA permit.

The court considered Khan’s licensing status an aggravating factor, recognizing that he understood ESA’s permitting process and used that knowledge for financial gain.

The court also emphasized the potentially catastrophic consequences of the offences, including fire and loss of life, and the importance of imposing penalties that deter others from circumventing electrical safety requirements, the ESA said.

“Using a licensed business to obtain permits for an unlicensed contractor undermines the protections Ontario’s electrical safety requirements provide,” said Emily Larose, vice president of Regulatory and General Counsel, Electrical Safety Authority. “We help licence holders meet their responsibilities, but when those responsibilities are deliberately ignored, we will act. These fines send a strong message that profiting from arrangements that put public safety at risk carries serious consequences.”

ESA investigators also observed Khan performing electrical work at a seventh home in Brantford alongside two unlicensed contractors. No electrical permit had been obtained from ESA for that job. As Aya Electric’s Designated Master Electrician, Khan was responsible for planning and supervising electrical work carried out on the company’s behalf.

“A Licensed Electrical Contractor’s licence cannot be rented, loaned or used to legitimize unlicensed electrical work,” said Sarah Kempel, director of Licensing, Electrical Safety Authority. “Obtaining permits for work that is being performed by an unlicensed contractor represents a deliberate disregard for Ontario’s licensing framework and the accountability that comes with holding a licence.”

By law, only Licensed Electrical Contractors can be hired to perform electrical work in Ontario homes and businesses.

Homeowners should report concerns if they suspect unlicensed electrical work or if a licensed electrical contractor is failing to meet their responsibilities, the ESA said.

Reports can be submitted anonymously, but the more details provided, the better equipped ESA is to investigate and take action.

People can report suspicious electrical activity here.

Lead photo: Ksenia Chernaya 

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