Time-of-use (TOU) prices
When you pay Time-of-use (TOU) prices, the price depends on when you use electricity. As prices vary according to the time of day and season, you can manage your electricity costs by shifting your usage to lower price periods when possible.
There are three rate periods:
- Off-peak, when demand for electricity is lowest. Ontario households and small businesses use the majority of their electricity – nearly two thirds of it – during off-peak hours.
- Mid-peak, when demand for electricity is moderate. These periods are during the daytime, but not the busiest times of day.
- On-peak, when demand is highest. These are the busiest times of day – generally when people are cooking, starting up their computers and running heaters or air conditioners.
If you want to continue paying TOU prices, you don’t need to do anything.
Tiered Prices
When you pay Tiered prices, you are charged a set rate for electricity up to a certain amount each month, and once that limit (called a threshold) is exceeded, a higher price applies.
Tiered prices give you the flexibility to use electricity at any time of day at the same price, although that price will increase if you exceed the threshold during the month.
For residential customers, the threshold normally changes with the season to reflect changing usage patterns. In the winter period (November 1 – April 30), the Tier threshold for residential customers is 1,000 kWh so that households can use more power at the lower price. In the summer period (May 1 – October 31), the Tier threshold for residential customers is 600 kWh.
For small business customers, the Tier threshold is 750 kWh all year round.
If you want to switch to Tiered prices, please complete this form or contact us at (905) 420-8440 or 1-888-420-0070.