October 13, 2020 - The OEB announced new electricity prices for households and small businesses, effective November 1, under the Regulated Price Plan. The winter Time-Of-Use (TOU) hours and the winter Tier threshold for residential customers, which were maintained for the summer 2020 period, will remain in effect on November 1. Since June 1, 2020, residential and small business customers on TOU have been paying a fixed electricity price of 12.8 ¢/kWh for all hours of the day as part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you’re a residential or small business customer that pays TOU prices, you can now choose to switch to Tiered prices.
- Read more about the new electricity prices (Oct 13-20)
- Read more about opting out of Time-of-Use Pricing
Time-of-use (TOU) rates
The following table and chart track time-of-use electricity rates since 2006. Under time-of-use rates (also referred to here as prices), the amount you pay depends on when you use electricity. These rates currently apply to residential consumers, small businesses and farms.
The Government of Ontario introduced a fixed electricity price of 12.8 ¢/kWh for consumers paying time-of-use prices to support them while Ontario plans the safe and gradual re-opening of the province. Read the government’s news release and our FAQs
To support Ontarians during the COVID-19 emergency, the Government of Ontario provided temporary electricity rate relief for consumers paying time-of-use prices, in the form of a fixed electricity price of 10.1 ¢/kWh. Read the government’s news release.
The Government of Ontario introduced the Ontario Electricity Rebate, a 31.8% reduction applied to the pre-HST amount of eligible consumer’s bills. (Lower rebates applied from January 1, 2017 to October 31, 2019 (8%) and from 2011 through 2015 (10%)). The expanded rebate largely offset the price changes on the Electricity line when pricing under the Ontario Fair Hydro Plan Act, 2017, ended on October 31, 2019. Visit the government’s website.
Under the Ontario Fair Hydro Plan Act, 2017, electricity prices were lowered for consumers effective July 1, 2017, and were then increased at the rate of inflation on May 1, 2018 and May 1, 2019. A portion of the forecast Fair Hydro Plan price reduction was also reflected in the electricity prices set for May 1, 2017. Read our archived news feature for more information.
| Effective date | Off-peak price (¢ per kWh) |
Mid-peak price (¢ per kWh) |
On-peak price (¢ per kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2020 | 10.5 | 15.0 | 21.7 |
| Jun 1, 2020 | 12.8 | 12.8 | 12.8 |
| Mar 24, 2020 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10.1 |
| Nov 1, 2019 | 10.1 | 14.4 | 20.8 |
| May 1, 2019 | 6.5 | 9.4 | 13.4 |
| May 1, 2018 | 6.5 | 9.4 | 13.2 |
| Jul 1, 2017 | 6.5 | 9.5 | 13.2 |
| May 1, 2017 | 7.7 | 11.3 | 15.7 |
| Nov 1, 2016 | 8.7 | 13.2 | 18.0 |
| May 1, 2016 | 8.7 | 13.2 | 18.0 |
| Nov 1, 2015 | 8.3 | 12.8 | 17.5 |
| May 1, 2015 | 8.0 | 12.2 | 16.1 |
| Nov 1, 2014 | 7.7 | 11.4 | 14.0 |
| May 1, 2014 | 7.5 | 11.2 | 13.5 |
| Nov 1, 2013 | 7.2 | 10.9 | 12.9 |
| May 1, 2013 | 6.7 | 10.4 | 12.4 |
| Nov 1, 2012 | 6.3 | 9.9 | 11.8 |
| May 1, 2012 | 6.5 | 10 | 11.7 |
| Nov 1, 2011 | 6.2 | 9.2 | 10.8 |
| May 1, 2011 | 5.9 | 8.9 | 10.7 |
| Nov 1, 2010 | 5.1 | 8.1 | 9.9 |
| May 1, 2010 | 5.3 | 8.0 | 9.9 |
| Nov 1, 2009 | 4.4 | 8.0 | 9.3 |
| May 1, 2009 | 4.2 | 7.6 | 9.1 |
| Nov 1, 2008 | 4.0 | 7.2 | 8.8 |
| May 1, 2008 | 2.7 | 7.3 | 9.3 |
| Nov 1, 2007 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 8.7 |
| May 1, 2007 | 3.2 | 7.2 | 9.2 |
| Nov 1, 2006 | 3.4 | 7.1 | 9.7 |
| May 1, 2006 | 3.5 | 7.5 |
10.5 |
Tiered rates
The following table and chart tracks tiered electricity rates. Time-of-use rates started to replace tiered rates for households and small businesses in 2005. Under tiered rates, customers are charged two rates for electricity: a lower rate for the electricity used up to a certain limit, and a second, higher rate for all additional use.
The Government of Ontario introduced the Ontario Electricity Rebate, a 31.8% reduction applied to the pre-HST amount of eligible consumer’s bills. (Lower rebates applied from January 1, 2017 to October 31, 2019 (8%) and from 2011 through 2015 (10%)). The expanded rebate largely offset the price changes on the Electricity line when pricing under the Ontario Fair Hydro Plan Act, 2017 ended on October 31, 2019. Visit the government’s website.
Under the Ontario Fair Hydro Plan Act, 2017, electricity prices were lowered for consumers effective July 1, 2017, and were then increased at the rate of inflation on May 1, 2018 and May 1, 2019. A portion of the forecast Fair Hydro Plan price reduction was also reflected in the electricity prices set for May 1, 2017. Read our archived news feature for more information.
| Effective date | Lower tier price (¢ per kWh) |
Residential threshold for lower tier price (kWh per month) |
Higher tier price (¢ per kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2020 | 12.6 | 1,000 | 14.6 |
| May 1, 2020 | 11.9 | 1,000 | 13.9 |
| Nov 1, 2019 | 11.9 | 1,000 | 13.9 |
| May 1, 2019 | 7.7 | 600 | 8.9 |
| May 1, 2018 | 7.7 | 600 (Summer) 1,000 (Winter) |
8.9 |
| Jul 1, 2017 | 7.7 | 600 (Summer) 1,000 (Winter) |
9.0 |
| May 1, 2017 | 9.1 | 600 | 10.6 |
| Nov 1, 2016 | 10.3 | 1,000 | 12.1 |
| May 1, 2016 | 10.3 | 600 | 12.1 |
| Nov 1, 2015 | 9.9 | 1,000 | 11.6 |
| May 1, 2015 | 9.4 | 600 | 11.0 |
| Nov 1, 2014 | 8.8 | 1,000 | 10.3 |
| May 1, 2014 | 8.6 | 600 | 10.1 |
| Nov 1, 2013 | 8.3 | 1,000 | 9.7 |
| May 1, 2013 | 7.8 | 600 | 9.1 |
| Nov 1, 2012 | 7.4 | 1,000 | 8.7 |
| May 1, 2012 | 7.5 | 600 | 8.8 |
| Nov 1, 2011 | 7.1 | 1,000 | 8.3 |
| May 1, 2011 | 6.8 | 600 | 7.9 |
| Nov 1, 2010 | 6.4 | 1,000 | 7.4 |
| May 1, 2010 | 6.5 | 600 | 7.5 |
| Nov 1, 2009 | 5.8 | 1,000 | 6.7 |
| May 1, 2009 | 5.7 | 600 | 6.6 |
| Nov 1, 2008 | 5.6 | 1,000 | 6.5 |
| May 1, 2008 | 5.0 | 600 | 5.9 |
| Nov 1, 2007 | 5.0 | 1,000 | 5.9 |
| May 1, 2007 | 5.3 | 600 | 6.2 |
| Nov 1, 2006 | 5.5 | 1,000 | 6.4 |
| May 1, 2006 | 5.8 | 600 | 6.7 |
| Nov 1, 2005 | 5.0 | 1,000 | 5.8 |
| Apr 1, 2005 | 5.0 | 750 | 5.8 |
| Apr 1, 2004* | 4.7 | 750 | 5.5 |
| Dec 9, 2002* |
4.3 ¢ per kWh |
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* Set by Government Regulation