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.
Time-of-use (TOU) rates
The following table and chart track time-of-use electricity rates since 2006. Under time-of-use rates, the amount you pay depends on when you use electricity.
| Effective date | Off-peak price (¢ per kWh) |
Mid-peak price (¢ per kWh) |
On-peak price (¢ per kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Effective date | Lower tier price (¢ per kWh) |
Residential threshold for lower tier price (kWh per month) |
Higher tier price (¢ per kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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