Cheaper times to use electricity are changing in Ontario on Nov. 1

Cooler temperatures are now here in Ontario and electricity providers will soon be changing to the winter price period for some billing plans.

That will take effect on Nov. 1, which is also when electricity rates for those under the regulated price plan will be changing across the province.

Those under the regulated price plan, which includes most residential, small business, and farm customers, have three different options for billing.

Those are: time-of-use and ultra-low overnight, with prices changing depending on when power is used; there is also a tiered plan, with costs depending on how much electricity is used overall in a month.

Most customers in Ontario pay time-of-use rates.

There are two different price periods that occur during the year for time-of-use and residential tiered plans, while ultra-low overnight stays the same all year.

From Nov. 1 to April 30, the winter price period is in effect and from May 1 to Oct. 31, the summer period is in place.

They reflect different electricity consumption patterns in the province depending on the season.

That means beginning on Nov. 1, for time-of-use customers, cheaper times to use electricity will be changing:

Off-peak hours will be from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., which is the same as the summer period, but mid-peak will be from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. On-peak hours will be from will be from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., as well as 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

On weekends and holidays, off-peak rates apply all day.

The residential tiered threshold will also change. Tiered rates allow customers to use a certain amount of electricity at a particular price up to a certain threshold. Beyond that threshold, the rate changes.

In the winter period, residential customers can use more electricity at a lower rate:

“The threshold changes with the season to reflect changing usage patterns – for example, there are fewer hours of daylight in the winter and some customers use electric heating,” the Ontario Energy Board says.

“In the winter period (Nov. 1 – April 30), the tier threshold for residential customers is 1,000 kWh, so that during the heating season households can use more power at the lower price. In the summer period (May 1 – Oct. 31), the tier threshold for residential customers is 600 kWh. The tier threshold for small business customers is 750 kWh all year round.”

And, as noted earlier, ultra-low overnight pricing remains the same all year:

For more information, visit the Ontario Energy Board website.