In light of the rollback of Ontario’s pandemic framework earlier this month, the Ontario government is now providing families, workers and small businesses who spend more time at home with some help on electricity expenses.
The government announced Jan. 18 that it will provide 21 days of electricity relief by lowering prices to the off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt hour for 24 hours a day. The effective date is Jan. 18.
“The off-peak rate, which is less than half the on-peak rate, will provide immediate savings as Ontarians spend more time at home and work together to slow the spread of the Omicron variant,” Energy Minister Todd Smith said in a news release.
There will be no applications to be filed to have this service available. It will automatically be applied to time-of-use and tiered rate plans on bills that have regulated rates by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB).
This initiative is built on pre-existing government programs that helped eligible customers with electricity payments. One of the programs is called the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) with a 17-per-cent rebate on their total electricity bills. Eligible customers with OER will continue to receive help during this time.
“We extend our thanks to Local Distribution Companies, as well as the Ontario Energy Board who have worked quickly to ensure the off-peak rate is applied automatically to bills, providing a seamless experience for both Time-of-Use and Tiered customers, ” said Smith.
Businesses that are eligible can look to the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program for help with a portion of their property tax and energy costs. To find more programs to reduce electricity bills, please visit the Ontario government website.
