Changes to your electricity bill

Overview

We are providing electricity bill relief for Ontarians.

The Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) is applied to bills for most residential consumers, farms and many small businesses.

The OER appears on your electricity bill as a single line item. 

Ontario Electricity Rebate

The Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) is for most households, farms, long-term care homes and small businesses. Eligible consumers automatically receive the rebate, which appears on bills as a separate line item.

Starting May 1, 2021, the OER will provide eligible consumers with an 18.9% rebate from the province on the subtotal of their electricity bill. This means the average residential bill will not go up compared to January 1, 2021.

Consumers that are currently receiving the OER under the grandfathering regulatory provisions will continue to receive the rebate until October 31, 2022. When the OER was introduced, a grandfathering period was also put in place for consumers that were previously receiving the 8% rebate as of October 22, 2019, if they met prescribed requirements to provide notice to their electricity vendor before February 1, 2021. The grandfathering period was scheduled to end on April 30, 2021.

For questions about eligibility, please contact your electricity distribution company or the Ontario Energy Board.

Credits on your bill

Most residential consumers, farms and many small businesses in Ontario automatically receive a reduction on their bill through the Ontario Electricity Rebate.

There are other  electricity bill credits available based on your location and income.

You may also receive further reductions on your bill if you're a customer of:

• Hydro One (low and medium density customers)
• Northern Ontario Wires
• Chapleau Public Utilities Corporation
• Sioux Lookout Hydro
• InnPower
• Atikokan Hydro
• Algoma Power

The credit you receive will vary depending on your distribution company. If you receive support through more than one provincial program, you will also see a separate message that summarizes the total Ontario support provided to help reduce your hydro bill.

If you live on-reserve

The First Nations On-Reserve Delivery Credit is a credit equal to 100% of the delivery charge (or the monthly service charge for utilities that don't have a separate delivery line). You could save an average of $85 per month if you're an on-reserve First Nations residential customer.

You don't need to apply for the First Nations Delivery Credit, if your local distribution company already exempts you from HST. It will automatically be applied to your bill. If you are eligible to be HST exempt – but are not registered yet – please contact your local distributor.

If you have low income

Apply online to get credits on your bill of $35 to $75 per month through the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP).

You could get additional credits (between $52 to $113 per month) if you:

• use electric heating
• use certain medical devices that use a lot of electricity
• are Indigenous or a family member living in your household is Indigenous

Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

If you’re behind on your electricity or natural gas bill and face having your service disconnected, you may qualify for emergency financial help through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).

COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

The CEAP program is ending. Utilities will continue to provide CEAP credits if they have funds remaining.

You can contact your electricity and/or natural gas utility to determine if they are still accepting applications.

More information is available from the Ontario Energy Board.

---

Energy-efficiency upgrade programs

Save on Energy Home Assistance Program (HAP)

This program provides free, energy efficiency upgrades, plus an in-home energy assessment to income-eligible:

• homeowners
• tenants (with the consent of building owner or manager)

Under the program, you may also be eligible for:

• a new, energy-efficient refrigerator or other appliances (for example, a window air conditioner)
• weather-stripping around your doors and windows and extra insulation in your attic or basement (if you live in a home that's heated by electricity)

HAP is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020 and will be replaced by the new Energy Affordability Program (EAP) launching the week of January 4, 2021. More information will be provided by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the program administrator.

AffordAbility Fund

Applications for the AffordAbility Fund are now closed.

The Affordability Fund will be replaced by the new Energy Affordability Program (EAP), launching the week of January 4, 2021. More information will be provided by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the program administrator.

Tax credits

For seniors and people with low-to-moderate income

Get up to $1,065 for the 2019 benefit year in tax credits if you or your family have low-to-moderate income and up to $1,213 if you're an eligible senior.

To apply for the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit:

1. download and fill out the ON-BEN application form(PDF)
2. file your income tax to see if you are eligible to receive the credit

If you are eligible for the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, you will receive the credit for previous years even if you file your taxes late.

For people in Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario residents can receive a tax credit of up to $154 per year for individuals and up to $237 per year for families, including single parents, for the 2019 benefit year.

To apply for the Northern Ontario Energy Credit:

1. download and fill out the ON-BEN application form (PDF)
2. file your income tax return to see if you are eligible to receive the credit

If you are eligible for the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, you will receive the credit for previous years even if you file your taxes late.

Programs for Indigenous Communities

The First Nations Conservation Program

The First Nations Conservation Program helps qualified on-reserve First Nations customers improve the energy efficiency of their homes and manage their energy use more effectively. The program is offered by the Independent Electricity System Operator and Save on Energy, and is delivered free of charge to eligible customers.