It is really not so bad, we love summer and all the fun things that comes with it.  We love the sights of summer, the smells of summer  and the tastes of summer, but not the electric bills that comes with keeping us cool in the heat of summer.

Here is some information about the new tiered pricing system for your electricity that was implemented on May 1, 2010

Tiered Prices

Time-of-Use (TOU) Prices

Signed an Electricity Contract?

You do not pay Regulated Price Plan (RPP) prices... your electricity price is set out in your contract. You will see a separate line item on your bill for what is called the Provincial Benefit (or "Global Adjustment). The Provincial Benefit accounts for differences between the market price of electricity and rates paid to regulated and contracted generators. It is already factored into RPP prices.

The Price of your Power:

Both tiered and time-of-use (TOU) prices form part of the OEB's RPP. They are based on the same forecast of how much it will cost to supply your electricity over the next 12 months.  The OEB then uses that same forecast to set up both the tiered and TOU prices fro the coming six-month period (tiered or TOU) your utility is currently using to bill you.

The above prices do not include other charges on your bill like delivery. For more information, visit the "Your Utility" section of the OEB's consumer website at http://www.oeb.gov.on.ca/

More TOU TIPS:

• Install a programmable thermostat and set it to reduce your energy use when you're not home and when you're sleeping.
• Check for drafts and leaks that will let your winter heat out or invite muggy summer air in. Caulking and weather-stripping are simple and inexpensive.
• In the summer, keep blinds and curtains closed to keep out the midday sun.
• Use a portable fan in conjunction with your air conditioner and don't set the thermostat below 26C.

TOU Basics:

TOU prices are prices that vary over the day - better reflecting the way electricity pricing works in the electricity market.

On-Peak prices - when demand and cost of electricity are highest.

Summer - Weekdays         11am - 5pm

Winter - Weekdays             10pm - 7am 

Mid-Peak prices - when demand and the cost of electricity are moderate.

Summer - Weekdays         7am - 11am & 5pm - 9pm

Winter - Weekdays             11am - 5pm

Off-Peak prices - when demand and the cost of electricity are lowest.

Summer - Weekdays         9pm - 7am

Winter - Weekdays                         9pm - 7am

Weekends & Holidays        24 hours

Just because you have a smart meter doesn't mean you're already paying TOU prices. As of the end of 2009, there were approximately 3.47 million smart meters installed in Ontario and 347,000 customers paying time-of-use prices. Check with your local utility for details on when TOU pricing will start for you.

Since You Asked...

Will my bill go up once I'm charged time-of-use prices? RPP prices are set to recover the total cost of supplying your electricity, regardless of which of these prices (tiered or TOU) your utility is currently using to bill you.

I'm at home during weekdays. I worry about the impact of moving to TOU prices. Whether you are there or not, your home is consuming electricity. For every hour that your fridge is running on-peak, there are three off-peak hours when you're paying significantly less than the current tiered prices.  All told, there is a total of 74 hours during the week when prices are higher than the current tiered prices (on-peak and mid-peak) and 93 off-peak hours when prices are lower than the current tiered prices.

The chart offers some rough estimates of what it may cost to do routine household chores during the different pricing periods.

Other than shifting the time I use electricity, how else can I reduce my household electricity costs? Many electronic items - for example, computers, TVs and cell phone chargers - aren't fully off unless you pull the plug. Since each can use between 4 and 10 watts of electricity, try to plug them into a power bar that you can turn off.

More question?            Visit http://www.oeb.gov.on.ca/

Contact the Consumer Relation Centre

1-877-632-2727 (toll-free within Ontario)

416-314-2455 (within the GTA or outside Ontario)

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