Ontario electricity guide
How Ontario Electricity Billing Works
An Ontario electricity bill combines charges for electricity supply, the local delivery network, regulatory items, taxes and any applicable credits or rebates. The exact labels and amounts vary by distributor and account type.
1. Electricity
Residential and eligible small-business customers commonly pay Time-of-Use, Tiered or Ultra-Low Overnight prices under the Regulated Price Plan. Customers with an energy-retailer contract pay the contract price instead.
2. Delivery
Delivery pays for transmission and local distribution infrastructure, meter service, maintenance and utility operations. It often includes fixed and variable elements, so it may not fall in direct proportion to monthly kilowatt-hours.
3. Regulatory charges
Regulatory line items recover specified costs connected with operating and administering the electricity system. The wording and treatment can change, so use the definitions on your own bill and distributor tariff.
4. Taxes, credits and rebates
HST is applied according to current tax rules. An Ontario Electricity Rebate or other credit may then reduce the amount payable for eligible customers. Assistance programs have separate eligibility rules.
A useful bill-reading sequence
- Confirm the billing period and whether the meter reading is actual or estimated.
- Check total kWh and the price-plan breakdown.
- Separate fixed delivery charges from usage-related delivery charges.
- Identify taxes, rebates, previous balances and adjustments.
- Compare with the same season and similar number of billing days.