New Ultra-Low Overnight Electricity Price Plan and Energy Affordability Changes
April 12, 2023
The government is launching a new Ultra-Low Overnight electricity price plan that will give families and small businesses who use more electricity overnight more ways to save.
The new price plan is a third option for electricity customers, in addition to the existing Time-of-Use (TOU) and Tiered plans.
Delivery of this new ultra-low overnight rate of 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour is possible as Ontario continues to have excess clean electricity during overnight hours.
Customers that use more electricity at night, including shift workers and those that electrically heat their home or charge their electric vehicle, could save up to $90 per year by shifting demand to the ultra-low overnight rate period when province-wide electricity demand is lower.
Shifting this electricity use to overnight hours will also better leverage Ontario’s clean electricity grid by resulting in potential capacity savings on the grid of $5.7 million per year, helping to reduce costs for all ratepayers.
The new optional Ultra-Low Overnight price plan provides:
- Ultra-low overnight rate of 2.4 cents per kWh: everyday 11 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Mid-peak rates of 10.2 cents per kWh: weekdays 7 a.m.-4 p.m. and 9 p.m.-11 p.m.
- On-peak rates of 24.0 cents per kWh: weekdays 4 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Weekend off-peak rates of 7.4 cents per kWh: weekends and statutory holidays 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
The new optional third price plan will be available to all eligible Regulated Price Plan (RPP) TOU and Tiered consumers in York-Simcoe and all area utilities are required to offer it to customers within six months.
Learn More: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1002916/ontario-launches-new-ultra-low-overnight-electricity-price-plan
Energy Affordability Program in York-Simcoe
The provincial government is helping families reduce their energy use and save money by expanding eligibility for the Energy Affordability Program which provides free home energy-efficiency upgrades for Ontarians who are looking for support with their energy bills.
To ensure families have access to these critical supports and help keep costs down the income eligibility threshold for the program is being raised by 16 per cent – that’s an increase of 11,715 dollars for a four-person household. Under the increased income eligibility threshold, a four-person household with a before-tax income of $84,872, or a couple with a before-tax income of $60,014, is now eligible for support through the Energy Affordability Program. Families and seniors in York-Simcoe could qualify!
How to Apply: https://saveonenergy.ca/For-Your-Home/Energy-Affordability-Program
The Energy Affordability Program offers free energy saving measures including insulation, smart thermostats, energy-efficient refrigerators and air conditioners which could help families save up to 750 dollars per year on their energy bill, or roughly 30 per cent.
Families looking for assistance with their energy bills can also continue to access the Ontario Electricity Support Program provides an on-bill credit of up to $75 per month, or the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program which provides up to $600 in emergency assistance if a family behind on their electricity or natural gas bill and face having their service disconnected.
Learn More: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1002903/ontario-helping-families-save-money-with-energy-efficiency-program