Ontario Electricity Rebate

The Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) is a provincially funded rebate that applies as a credit on qualifying electricity bills and reduces the pre-HST costs on customers’ bills by 17 per cent. The provincial government introduced the OER as an expanded rebate providing bill relief for eligible customers. The rebate is applied to bills for most residential customers, long-term care homes, farms and many small businesses.


Expanded Eligibility Criteria

Update: Effective July 1, 2022, the eligibility criteria for the OER is expanding to include common elements of predominantly residential multi-unit complexes, retirement residences and mobile home parks. If you qualify under the expanded eligibility criteria, you will need to submit the OER Eligibility Notice Form to notify Elexicon Energy.

If you meet one of the criteria listed below, you will continue to receive the OER and no action is required.

  • Your demand for electricity is 50 kilowatts (kW) or less
  • Your annual consumption doesn’t exceed 250,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity

The following customers are eligible for the OER but need to complete the OER Eligibility Notice Form in order to receive the rebate.


Common elements of a predominantly residential multi-unit complex

Your account is at least partly in respect of common elements, which means any part of a predominantly residential multi-unit complex (e.g. condominiums or apartment buildings) that is not a unit, and the following conditions are met:

  • The multi-unit complex, including any part of the multi-unit complex to which the common area account does not apply, contains at least two qualifying units[1]
  • At least 50% of the units[2] within the multi-unit complex, including any part of the multi-unit complex to which the account does not apply, are qualifying units
  • Your account exceeds the monthly electricity demand of 50 kW and use threshold of 250,000 kWh annually

[1] “Qualifying unit” means a unit that (a) consists of a self-contained room or set of rooms; (b) contains kitchen and bathroom facilities that are for the sole use of the unit; and (c) is occupied and used as a residence.


[2] “Unit” means (a) a unit as defined in the Condominium Act, 1998; (b) a residential unit or a rental unit, as those terms are defined in subsection 2(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006; (c) a member unit or a non-member unit, as those terms are defined in the Co-operative Corporations Act; or (d) premises that is demised premises for the purposes of the Commercial Tenancies Act. Furthermore, a unit does not include a unit that is intended for purposes of parking, storage, providing space for services, recreation, or other facilities or mechanical installations.

Multi-unit complex

Your account solely relates to a multi-unit complex, such as condominiums and apartment buildings, and you meet the following conditions:

  • The multi-unit complex contains at least two qualifying units[1]
  • At least 50% of the units[2] in the multi-unit complex are qualifying units
  • Your account exceeds the monthly electricity demand of 50 kW and use threshold of 250,000 kWh annually

[1] “Qualifying unit” means a unit that (a) consists of a self-contained room or set of rooms; (b) contains kitchen and bathroom facilities that are for the sole use of the unit; and (c) is occupied and used as a residence.

[2] “Unit” means (a) a unit as defined in the Condominium Act, 1998; (b) a residential unit or a rental unit, as those terms are defined in subsection 2(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006; (c) a member unit or a non-member unit, as those terms are defined in the Co-operative Corporations Act; or (d) premises that is demised premises for the purposes of the Commercial Tenancies Act. Furthermore, a unit does not include a unit that is intended for purposes of parking, storage, providing space for services, recreation, or other facilities or mechanical installations.

Retirement residence

Your account is solely in respect to a retirement residence and meets the following conditions:

  • At least 50% of the units in your retirement residence are occupied or intended to be occupied as a permanent residence by at least one person who is 65 years of age or older – they also cannot be related to the operator of the residence
  • There are at least six people 65 years of age or older who occupy or are intended to occupy the residence
  • Your account exceeds the monthly electricity demand of 50 kW and use threshold of 250,000 kWh annually

Mobile home park

Your account solely relates to a mobile home park and meets the following conditions:

  • You meet the definition of a mobile home park[1] as defined by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, subsection 2(1)
  • Your account exceeds the monthly electricity demand of 50 kW and use threshold of 250,000 kWh annually

[1] “Mobile home park” means the land on which one or more occupied mobile homes are located and includes the rental units and the land, structures, services and facilities of which the landlord retains possession and that are intended for the common use and enjoyment of the tenants of the landlord (Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, subsection 2(1)).

Long-term care home

Your account only refers to a long-term care home and meets the following condition:

  • Your account is solely in respect of a licensed long-term care home under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, unless it’s related to a hospital as defined in the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act

Farming business

You’re a consumer who carries a farming business that meets the following conditions:

  • Your business is for the purposes of the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993
  • You hold a valid registration number assigned under that Act or your obligation to file a farming business registration form was waived pursuant to an order made under subsection 22(6) of that Act

Note: You will not qualify for the OER if your account relates in whole or in part to any of the excluded premises in the following list.

  • A hotel, motel or motor hotel, resort, lodge, tourist camp, cottage or cabin establishment, inn, campground, trailer park, tourist home, bed and breakfast vacation establishment or vacation home
  • Living accommodation occupied by a person for penal or correctional purposes
  • A hospital, as defined in the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010
  • A premises that is subject to the Ministry of Correctional Services Act or the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017
  • Short-term living accommodation provided as emergency shelter
  • Living accommodation provided by an educational institution to its students or staff where:

    • - The living accommodation is provided primarily to persons under the age of majority, or all major questions related to the living accommodation are decided after consultation with a council or association representing the residents
    • - The living accommodation is not intended for year-round occupancy by full-time students or staff and members of their households
  • A university, college of applied arts and technology, or other entity that provides post-secondary education
  • A premises that is identified by a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code commencing with the digits 21, 22, 23, 31, 32 or 33

The transitional benefit period

You may currently be receiving the OER under a legacy exemption as part of the former 8 per cent Provincial Rebate (which was in place before the OER was introduced on November 1, 2019). The transitional benefit period expires on October 31, 2022.

If you qualify under the new eligibility criteria and want to continue receiving the OER benefit, submit an OER Eligibility Notice Form before October 31, 2022 to help avoid a delay in receiving this benefit.

OER Eligibility Notice Form

If you meet the eligibility requirements outlined on this page, you should submit the OER Eligibility Notice Form to let us know.

Note: If your electricity demand is 50 kW or less or if your annual electricity consumption is less than 250,000 kWh, you don’t have to complete the OER Eligibility Notice Form. You’ll be automatically enrolled in the OER and will receive the OER benefit.

Update: Effective July 1, 2022, the eligibility criteria for the OER are expanding to include common elements of predominantly residential multi-unit complexes, retirement residences and mobile home parks. If you qualify under the expanded eligibility criteria, submit an OER Eligibility Notice Form to Elexicon Energy immediately to start receiving the benefit as of July 1, 2022.

To apply for the OER, complete this fillable PDF form and return it by email to customercare@elexiconenergy.com.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the Ontario Electricity Rebate?

The Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) was introduced on November 1, 2019, to replace the previous government’s Global Adjustment Refinancing and 8 per cent rebate programs under the former Fair Hydro Plan. The OER is provided to eligible electricity consumers, including residential consumers, small businesses, long-term care homes and farms.

Q2. What eligibility rules are changing and why?

The Ontario government is expanding eligibility for some residential and other low volume consumers. Common elements in individually metered multi-unit complexes that are at least 50 per cent residential, such as condominiums, residential home parks and certain seniors’ residences will qualify for the OER effective July 1, 2022.

Q3. How will electricity bills be affected?

Most customers will not see a change to their bills. Effective July 1, 2022, accounts in respect of common elements in individually metered multi-unit complexes that contain at least 50 per cent residential units, such as condominiums, residential mobile home parks and certain retirement residences will qualify for the OER. Newly eligible consumers should contact Elexicon Energy by July 1, 2022, to begin receiving the rebate on their bills in the next billing period.

Q4. Will all newly eligible consumers have to submit a self-declaration form to Elexicon Energy?

Yes, all consumers that receive OER as a result of the newly expanded OER eligibility rules will be required to submit a self-declaration form to Elexicon Energy informing us of their eligibility under the expanded rules. Newly eligible consumers should contact Elexicon Energy to begin receiving the rebate as of July 1, 2022. Consumers currently receiving the rebate under the legacy exemption that remain eligible under the new provisions should also contact Elexicon Energy to ensure that they continue to receive the rebate as of November 1, 2022. This one-time self-declaration form will ensure that eligible customers will automatically remain in the program from this point forward.

Q5. When do consumers have to inform LDCs of their eligibility?

All consumers covered by the newly expanded OER eligibility rules will be required to submit a self-declaration form to Elexicon Energy. After July 1, 2022, if a consumer submits their form to Elexicon Energy at least 11 days prior to the end of a billing period, the OER will appear on their bill for that same period. If a consumer submits their form to Elexicon Energy fewer than 11 days prior to the end of a billing period, then the OER will be applied to their bill on the first day of the next billing period. The earliest date that a consumer can submit their form to Elexicon Energy will be the earlier of July 1, 2022, or when the regulation is filed.