Ontario extends reduced hydro rates during Stay at Home orders

The Ontario government is once again extending electricity rate relief for another two weeks, until the Stay at Home orders are lifted.

On Wednesday, the province said they will continue to hold electricity prices to the off-peak rate of 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour until February 22. This lower rate is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week for Time-Of-Use and tiered customers.

The rate relief is for families, small businesses and farms to support those spending more time at home while the province maintains the Stay at Home order in the majority of public health regions.

“We know staying at home means using more electricity during the day when electricity prices are higher, that’s why we are once again 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 in a statement.

“We thank Ontarians for continuing to follow regional Stay-at-Home orders to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”

The off-peak rate came into effect January 1 making the total time for rate relief 53 days. During this period, the off-peak price will continue to be automatically applied to electricity 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.