Ontario announces hydro rate relief for those affected by recent health measures

As part of the Ontario government's recent announcement to give grants to small businesses forced to close due to the pandemic, the government announced it is also providing electricity-rate relief to support small businesses, as well as workers and families spending more time at home while the province is in Modified Step Two, a news release issued today states.

As of 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 18, electricity prices will be set at the current off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour all day for 21 days. 

This rate will apply automatically to residential, small businesses and farms who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility and will benefit customers on both Time-of-Use and Tiered rate plans.

“We know that spending more time at home means using more electricity during the day when prices are higher, that’s why we are moving to off-peak electricity rates 24 hours per day, seven days a week,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “The off-peak rate will provide immediate savings for families, small businesses and farms as all Ontarians work together to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.”