Ontario Keeping Electricity Costs Down for Families
Expansion of Ontario Electricity Support Program launches today
The Voice of Canada: The Ontario government is keeping electricity costs down for about 100,000 additional families by expanding the eligibility for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP). New income eligibility thresholds, which have increased by up to 35 per cent, take effect today.
“Our government is increasing our investment in the Ontario Electricity Support Program by $50 million to provide targeted support to those who need it most,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “While previous governments implemented schemes that led to skyrocketing energy prices, we’re using every tool in our toolbox to keep costs down for families.”
The government’s increased investment in the OESP will support a significant expansion of the program. For example, a four-person household can now have a combined maximum income of $65,000 after tax deductions, to qualify for a monthly rebate of $40. That’s an increase of $17,000 from the previous maximum of $48,000.
“This investment in the Ontario Electricity Support Program demonstrates how serious our government is about making life more affordable for Ontarians,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Our government will continue to find even more ways to bring down costs to ensure that nobody in our province gets left behind.”
Households eligible for the OESP can receive credits of $35 to $75 through the program depending on household size. Higher monthly credits of between $52 to $113 are available to customers who are Indigenous, living with Indigenous family members, using electric heating, or using certain electricity-intensive medical devices.
In addition to the OESP, the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) keeps electricity bills for families and small business affordable. Last fall, the on-bill OER was increased from 11.7 per cent to 19.3 per cent – reducing a typical household’s electricity bill by a total of $26 each month – or $312 a year.
In 2022, the OESP provided energy relief to approximately 212,000 households across the province.
Families can apply for the OESP at any time. There is no application deadline, but the sooner they apply and are accepted into the OESP, the sooner they will begin to receive the on-bill credits.
Customers who are eligible for Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) are likely also eligible for OESP. LEAP provides emergency financial assistance for electricity or natural gas customers who are at risk of having their service disconnected for non-payment.
“We are working to protect vulnerable customers by delivering OESP to more families in need.”-Susanna Zagar
Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Energy Board
