OEB COVID-19 UPDATE - Time-of-use pricing
The Government of Ontario issued an Emergency Order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. As a result, starting on March 24, 2020, residential and small business customers on time-of-use (TOU) pricing will pay 10.1 ¢/kWh no matter what time of day the electricity is consumed. This means that TOU customers will be paying the off-peak price throughout the day as long as the Emergency Order remains in place. The Government has indicated that it intends to keep the 10.1 ¢/kWh pricing in place for 45 days.
The 10.1 ¢/kWh pricing applies automatically – no customer action is required. Some customers may receive a bill before their utility or unit sub-meter provider is able to implement the price change, in which case they will receive a credit on the following bill. For more information, read the Government’s news release.
As part of our mandate, we set the rates that your utility charges for the electricity you use in your home or small business. These rates appear on the Electricity line of your bill. We also set the Delivery rates that cover the cost to deliver electricity to most residential and small business customers.
See a description of all of the charges that appear on your electricity bill
Types of electricity rates
For customers that buy electricity from their utility, there are two different types of rates. The Ontario Energy Board sets both:
- Time-of-use - Most residential and small business customers are charged using time-of-use rates, where the rate depends on when you use electricity. Find out more about time-of-use rates and managing your electricity costs.
- Tiered - A very small number of customers are still paying tiered rates, where a customer uses a certain amount of energy each month at a lower rate. Once you exceed that limit, the rate goes up. Read more about tiered rates.
For customers that have signed up for a contract with an energy retailer, the price is set out in the contract. The Ontario Energy Board does not regulate this. Read more about contracts.
How electricity rates are set
We set electricity rates for residential and small business customers. We review them twice a year, on May 1 and Nov 1, and if necessary, we adjust these rates. Read more about the latest rate change.
- See what they’re asking for and why, and provide your comments online
- Find out when upcoming community meetings and hearings are being held so that you can attend
- See documents related to the case
Tiered rates
A very small number of Ontario electricity customers are billed using tiered rates. Under tiered rates, a customer can use a certain amount of energy each month at a lower rate. Once that limit is exceeded, the rate goes up. The chart below shows the rates and tiers for each type of customer:
Residential (effective November 1, 2019)
| When | How much electricity you use | Rate (¢ per kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Summer (May 1 - Oct 31) | Up to 600 kWh | -- |
| More than 600 kWh | -- | |
| Winter (Nov 1 - Apr 30) | Up to 1,000 kWh | 11.9 |
| More than 1,000 kWh | 13.9 |
Non-Residential (effective November 1, 2019)
| When | How much electricity you use | Rate (¢ per kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| All seasons | Up to 750 kWh | 11.9 |
| More than 750 kWh | 13.9 |
See how rates for tiered customers have changed over time
Electricity prices in energy contracts
Fewer than 1 in 10 customers in Ontario buy their electricity from an electricity retailer. If you’re thinking about signing an energy contract, you will pay the price in the contract, which is not regulated by the Ontario Energy Board.
The Global Adjustment
Most electricity generating companies get a guaranteed price for the electricity that they produce. The Global Adjustment is the difference between that guaranteed price and the money the generators earn in the wholesale marketplace. The Global Adjustment also covers the costs of some conservation programs.
All electricity consumers have to pay a share of the Global Adjustment. The time-of-use and tiered electricity rates charged by your electricity utility already include an estimate of the Global Adjustment. If you sign up for a contract with an energy retailer, you have to pay your share of the Global Adjustment on top of the contract price. The Global Adjustment will also appear as a separate line on your bill.
Visit the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) website for more information on the Global Adjustment.
Calculate your electricity bill
Electricity distribution utilities deliver electricity to your home or business and also issue your bill, unless you are a customer of a unit sub-metering provider. Use our calculator to estimate your monthly bill. You can also compare your current bill with what to expect if you sign a contract with an electricity retailer.