Ontario electricity guide
The Future of Ontario Electricity Prices – Trends to Watch
Ontario electricity costs are shaped by long-lived generation assets, refurbishments, transmission and distribution investment, new demand, conservation, market rules and government policy. No single forecast can reliably predict an individual household bill.
Demand is expected to grow
The IESO’s 2026 planning outlook forecasts substantial long-term demand growth driven by population, economic development and electrification. Growth does not translate directly into a particular household rate, but it increases the importance of timely supply and network investment.
Major cost drivers to watch
- nuclear refurbishment and new generation;
- transmission and local distribution expansion;
- electric vehicles, electric heating, industry and data centres;
- storage, demand response and conservation;
- fuel prices and the role of natural-gas generation;
- government rebates, funding choices and regulatory decisions.
How to follow changes
Use OEB price announcements for Regulated Price Plan changes, your distributor’s approved-rate notices for delivery changes, and IESO planning documents for system-wide demand and supply needs. Treat headline wholesale prices as only one part of the retail-bill story.