Customer Choice: Regulated Price Plan
Back to HomeIf you’re a residential or small business customer, you have the choice of three different pricing options:
To switch between TOU, Tiered or ULO prices, you must notify us by completing the RPP Election Form (available below).
Ineligible Accounts: Customers who are currently enrolled with an electricity retailer are not able to switch to TOU, ULO or Tiered rates as long as their retail contract remains in effect. In addition, customers who are currently paying Tiered prices may not be able switch to TOU prices at this time if their meters are unable to bill TOU prices.
Considering a Switch?
Here are a few things to think about. Make sure you have some of your recent electricity bills handy as you go through the information below. Most of the information you will need is on the Electricity line of your bill.
- Your price plan
Do you currently pay TOU, Tiered or ULO prices for your electricity? If you’re unsure, take a look at the Electricity line of your bill. Most residential and small business customers in Ontario still pay TOU prices.
- Your usage
How much electricity do you use in a month (in kWh)? If you’re unsure, take a look at the Electricity line on your bill. You might also want to look at your historical usage via your SilverBlaze portal.
- Your consumption pattern
When you use electricity can be another factor in your choice. Historically, the typical residential customer who paid TOU prices has used nearly two thirds of their power at off-peak times – the time when the lowest TOU price applies. The other third of their power used was typically split equally between on- and mid-peak times. Look at the Electricity line of your bill to see how much power you use in each of the three TOU price periods.
- Seasonal changes and time of year
As described above, the TOU price periods and Tier thresholds change with the season, and are different during the winter (November 1 – April 30) and summer (May 1 – October 31) periods. Does the amount of electricity you use change based on the season? ULO time periods remain the same during the winter and summer.
If you’re thinking about switching, you should pay close attention to how much electricity you use in a month, because on Tiered pricing the price is higher for every kWh of electricity that you use above the Tier threshold of 1,000 kWh in the winter or 600 kWh in the summer. For instance, if you heat your home electrically, your monthly use in the winter may be higher. And the same goes for the summer if you need to run your air conditioner.
With TOU and ULO prices, the price depends on when you use electricity. Although the TOU price periods also change with the season, the electricity you use after 7 p.m. every day, and all the time on weekends and holidays, is charged at the lowest price under TOU all year round.
- Lifestyle and daily habits
Are you often home during the day on weekdays, so that shifting your usage is more challenging? Do you have large appliances that you need to run during the day on weekdays? Can you shift more of that usage to nighttime or weekend hours?
- Compare Rate Structures
The OEB has a fantastic tool called the Bill Calculator, that customers can use to estimate what their monthly bill would be across all RPP rate structures. Click here to access the Bill Calculator.
Small Business
If you’re a small business owner, some of the same factors mentioned above also apply – how much electricity do you use each month, and when do you use it? Keep in mind that the Tiered threshold for small business customers is 750 kWh all year round.
About TOU Prices
With TOU prices, the price depends on when you use electricity. You can help manage your electricity costs by shifting your usage to lower price periods when possible.
There are three TOU periods:
- Off-peak: When demand for electricity is lowest. Ontario households use most 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 for electricity is generally higher. These are the busier times of day – generally when people are cooking, starting up their computers and running heaters or air conditioners.
People use electricity differently depending on the season, so the TOU price periods are different in the winter than they are in the summer.
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) sets these rates. To learn more, and see the current rates in effect, click here.
About Tiered Prices
With Tiered prices, you can use a certain amount of electricity each month at a lower price. Once that limit (called a threshold) is exceeded, a higher price applies. For residential customers, the threshold normally changes with the season to reflect changing usage patterns – for example, there are fewer hours of daylight in the winter and some customers use electric heating.
In the winter period (November 1 – April 30), the Tier threshold for residential customers is 1,000 kWh per month* 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 per month*.
For small business customers, the Tier threshold is 750 kWh per month* all year round.
Tiered prices give you the flexibility to use electricity at any time of day at the same price, although that price will change if you exceed the threshold during the month.
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) sets these rates. To learn more, and see the current rates in effect, click here.
* a month is deemed to be a 30 day period.
About ULO Prices
Similar to TOU rates, with ULO, the price depends on when you use electricity. ULO has an additional price period, a different set of rates and offers an ultra-low overnight rate in exchange for a higher on-peak rate.
This plan is in large part intended to incent customers to use electricity during periods of low demand. If you are able to shift your energy use overnight and away from on-peak hours it could help you find savings on your bill.
There are four ULO periods: Ultra-low overnight when demand for electricity is lowest on average. The weekend off-peak, when demand for electricity is generally lower. The mid-peak, when the demand for electricity is moderate and the on-peak when the demand for electricity is highest.
The ULO periods (hours) are the same in the summer as they are in the winter.
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) sets these rates. To learn more, and see the current rates in effect, click here.
Still Unsure?
Are you still not sure whether you should elect to change your price structure? Check out our Customer Choice: FAQ page for additional information and resources to help you make an informed choice.
Ready to Make the Change?
Have you decided that a change in price structure is right for you? If so, submit your Customer Choice: RPP Election Form below.