Families, workers and small businesses in Pickering and the rest of Durham to benefit from electricity price drop

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Published January 18, 2022 at 1:55 pm

The Ontario government is providing 21 days of electricity-rate relief to support small businesses and families and workers spending more time at home.

Effective today, electricity prices are lowered to the off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour — less than half the on-peak rate — 24 hours per day.

“Families and small businesses will benefit from 21 days of electricity rate relief as our government implements the off-peak rate,” said Energy Minister Todd Smith. “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.”

The 21-day period coincides with the length of time Ontario is expected to stay in the modified Step 2 of the Ford government’s Roadmap to Re-open.

Electricity customers won’t have to do anything to benefit from the rate cut – it will be applied automatically to both Time-of-Use and Tiered rate plans on the bills of residential customers, small businesses and farms who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB).

Implementation of the off-peak rate builds on existing programs introduced by government to reduce electricity prices including the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER), which provides a 17 per cent rebate on the subtotal of the electricity bill of eligible customers including households, small businesses and farms. Eligible customers will continue to benefit from the OER while off-peak pricing is in place.

“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,” Smith said.

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