PUBLICATIONS The Government of Ontario is providing $8 million to support small business and registered charity customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. CEAP-SB is being delivered by electricity distributors, natural gas distributors and unit sub-meter providers (USMPs), in accordance with rules laid out by the OEB. You need to meet certain criteria to qualify for these programs: Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) This program provides low-income consumers with a monthly on-bill credit to reduce their electricity bill. If you’re behind on your electricity or natural gas bill and face having your service disconnected, you may qualify for emergency financial help through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). We’re protecting you. Learn about the rules that utilities and energy retailers must follow and how we enforce them. The new Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) is now accepting applications online. Ask your caseworker how to get the monthly credit. Electricity Customers Eligible low-income customers that enter into an arrears payment agreement are allowed more time to pay outstanding balances to their electricity utility or unit sub-meter provider.

As part of this process, the agency will contact your electricity or natural gas provider and ask them to pause any further disconnection or collection activity on your account until a decision is made. Call 1-855-831-8151 (toll free within Ontario) Email help@ontarioelectricitysupport.ca; Use the Bell Relay service at 1-800-855-1155 (TTY to TTY) The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) provides a one time, on-bill credit to eligible small business and registered charity customers to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments. The agency looking at your case will decide whether or not you qualify as low-income. Those time periods are: Your utility may also ask for a 10% down payment when you enter an arrears payment plan. We’re protecting you. Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients who pay hydro costs directly are automatically eligible for a monthly credit on their bill through the OESP. Email us if you have any questions about the collection of information. To support families, small businesses and farms while Ontario plans for the safe and gradual reopening of the province, the Government of Ontario has introduced a new fixed electricity price of 12.8 ¢/kWh for customers that are on time-of-use (TOU) prices. Credited to your account with the utility or unit sub-meter provider if it's, Credited to your account with the utility if it's. View the list of agencies that offer LEAP.

Those time periods are: Your utility or unit sub-meter provider may also ask for a 10% down payment when you enter an arrears payment plan. Note: if you are a customer of a unit sub-meter provider, then the special rules regarding billing errors do not apply. Customers can find information about their class on their bill, or they can contact their utility or USMP. The customer’s account was in good standing on March 17, 2020, and the customer was not enrolled in an arrears payment agreement for amount owing prior to March 17, 2020. Grants are issued on your behalf and paid directly to your utility.

Your voice matters. You can pay it back over the same time frame as you were under-charged, up to a maximum of 2 years. The customer failed to make complete payment for the electricity and/or natural gas charges (as applicable) on at least two bills issued since March 17, 2020, and has an overdue balance on the date of their application for CEAP-SB. Eligible small business and registered charity customers may qualify for a one-time CEAP-SB credit equal to the electricity charges that are overdue on the date of their application for CEAP-SB, up to a maximum of $850 if their premises is mainly heated by electricity, or up to a maximum of $425 otherwise. Natural Gas Customers Information collected will include name, address and electricity provider.
If your LEAP intake agency notifies your natural gas utility that you may be eligible for emergency financial assistance, they must suspend any disconnection process for a maximum of 21 days from the notification date. The Government of Ontario is providing $9 million to support residential customers struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of COVID-19. You need to meet certain criteria to qualify for these programs, and must go through one of the intake agencies in Ontario listed below.

Ontario is committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal information. August 17, 2018, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, use certain medical devices that use a lot of electricity, or if a family member living in your household is Indigenous. As part of this process, the agency will contact your electricity or natural gas provider and ask them to pause any further disconnection or collection activity on your account until a decision is made.

The Ontario Electricity Support Program that enables eligible low-income customers to receive a fixed monthly credit on their electricity bills. You cannot receive more money than you owe on your bill.Therefore, you may not receive the full amount of the grant. The amount of the credit will depend on how many people live in your house and your combined household income. However, customers that enrolled in an arrears payment agreement for amounts that became owing after March 17, 2020 are eligible for CEAP-SB. Your utility will also be notified if your application is denied. To do this, the province will be collecting and disclosing personal information to the Ontario Energy Board under the authority of section 79.2.1 of the Ontario Energy Board Act and in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. You’ve received LEAP emergency financial assistance within the past two years, or, You are receiving assistance under the Ontario. Accessibility | Contact your utility or USMP to find out what options are available for submitting the application form. Privacy | Terms of Use, © Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2012-14 - Last Modified: The Government of Ontario is providing $8 million to support small business and registered charity customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. The customer’s account falls within the following class: For customers of an electricity distributor, the General Service less than 50 kW rate class, For customers of a USMP, the relevant commercial class that uses less than 150,000 kWh of electricity annually, For customers of a natural gas distributor, is a non-residential customer that uses less than 50,000 cubic meters of gas annually. The amount of income it takes to qualify depends on two factors: For example, a home with four people and an annual after-tax income of $37,000 would be eligible for a LEAP Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) grant. You can get more help ($52 to $113 per month) if you: Whether you are applying for social assistance for the first time or already receiving social assistance, your caseworker can help you get the monthly credit.

The amount of the credit will depend on how many people live in your house and your combined household income. The OESP program started in January 2016 and if approved you get a direct credit on your Hydro bill on an on-going monthly basis.
Fraud warning: Ontario Rebate and Reward Association. If you believe that your utility or unit sub-meter provider has broken our customer service rules we want to hear from you. Small business and registered charity customers could also be eligible for up to $425 in support towards their natural gas bill. You will then have 10 days to request a cheque or they will apply the amount as a credit to your electricity bill.