The Ontario government is extending electricity rate relief for families, small businesses and farms to support those spending more time at home in response to the provincial Stay-at-Home Order. The government will continue to hold electricity prices to the off-peak rate of 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour until February 9, 2021. This lower rate is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week for Time-Of-Use and tiered customers.
“We know staying at home means using more electricity during the day when electricity prices are higher, that’s why we are extending the off-peak electricity rate to provide households, small businesses and farms with stable and predictable electricity bills when they need it most,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. “We thank Ontarians for following the provincial Stay-at-Home Order to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”
The off-peak rate came into effect January 1, 2021 for a 28-day period, providing families, farms and small businesses with immediate electricity rate relief. The government is now extending this rate relief for an additional 12 days, for a total of 40 days. The off-peak price will continue to be automatically applied to bills of all residential, small business, and farm customers who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility.
“We thank the Ontario Energy Board and local distribution companies across the province for implementing this extended emergency rate relief and supporting Ontarians as they work and learn from home,” said Bill Walker, Associate Minister of Energy.
This is great for them to think about people staying home all the time now. But once this rate relief is over they don’t think that us retired people and all the disabled people out there have to stay home all the time but we still have to pay the high rates or stay up and do everything at night. That is not much fun for us old people that need our sleep.
To Ray Vowels – There is also a tiered rate for people who stay home a lot. A flat rate on the first 1000kwh that applies 7-days a week, regardless of the time. For an average user of hydro, you could realize some savings over time of use pricing. Check out your local utility’s website and look for their time of use vs tiered pricing calculator to get a better idea if tiered pricing is right for you. I’m saving about $75/yr on tiered pricing and I never have to worry about what time of the day I am using hydro.