Ontario Electricity Rebate

The Ontario government has revised the Ontario Rebate for Electricity Consumers Act, 2016 (O. Reg. 363/16 – see https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/160363).

Historically, this rebate was captured through an 8% rebate, intended to offset the provincial portion of HST, along with a “Global Adjustment modifier” intended to reduce the monthly impact of the Global Adjustment.
Since November 1, 2019, this rebate is captured as a single line item on bills named the “Ontario Electricity Rebate.”

Changes to Eligibility Requirements and New Customer Notice Requirements:

Effective July 1, 2022, the following types of consumer accounts will become eligible for OER:

• Common areas in individually metered multi-unit complexes that contain at least 50% residential units, such as condominiums.
• Residential mobile home parks.
• Retirement residences that are not long-term care homes, but do not meet eligibility criteria as a residential multi-unit complex.

Consumers with demand of 50 kilowatts or less or annual consumption of 250,000 kilowatt hours or less, farms, and licensed long-term care homes (other than where the electricity account is also in respect of a hospital) remain eligible. Certain types of multi-unit complexes are specifically excluded from eligibility, such as hospitals, universities, trailer parks and hotels.

What you need to do:

• If your business/organization was not receiving the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) but now do meet the revised eligibility requirements, you will need to provide the required notice to your hydro company, Wellington North Power Inc. If you do not provide the notice, you will not automatically receive OER from July 1, 2022.
• If you currently receive the Ontario Electricity Rebate, there is no action required by you.

What is the “required notice”?

The “required notice” is completion of the Ontario Electricity Rebate Eligibility Form (click to access the form).

Question & Answers:

Q1. What is the Ontario Electricity Rebate?
The Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) was introduced effective November 1, 2019, to replace
the previous government’s Global Adjustment Refinancing and 8 per cent rebate programs
under the former Fair Hydro Plan. The OER is provided to eligible electricity consumers,
including residential consumers, small businesses, long-term care homes and farms.

Q2. What eligibility rules are changing and why?
The Ontario government is expanding eligibility for some residential and other low volume
consumers. Common elements in individually metered multi-unit complexes that are at least 50
per cent residential, such as condominiums, residential home parks and certain seniors’
residences will qualify for the OER effective July 1, 2022.

Q3. How will electricity bills be affected?
Most customers will not see a change to their bills.
Effective July 1, 2022, accounts in respect of common elements in individually metered multi-unit
complexes that contain at least 50 per cent residential units, such as condominiums, residential
mobile home parks and certain retirement residences will qualify for the OER. Newly eligible
consumers should contact their local distribution company by July 1, 2022, to begin receiving the
rebate on their bills in the next billing period.

Q4. Will all newly eligible consumers have to submit a self-declaration form (attestation)
to their Local Distribution Company (LDC)?
Yes, all consumers that receive OER as a result of the newly expanded OER eligibility rules will
be required to submit an attestation to their LDC informing them of their eligibility under the
expanded rules. Newly eligible consumers should contact their LDC to begin receiving the rebate
as of July 1, 2022. Consumers currently receiving the rebate under the legacy exemption that
remain eligible under the new provisions should also contact their LDC to ensure that they
continue to receive the rebate as of November 1, 2022. This one-time attestation to LDCs will
ensure that eligible customers will automatically remain in the program from this point forward.

Q5. When do consumers have to inform LDCs of their eligibility?
All consumers covered by the newly expanded OER eligibility rules will be required to submit an
attestation to their LDCs in-person, by mail, or through other means as agreed-upon by the LDC
(e.g., email). After July 1, 2022, if a consumer submits their attestation to their LDC at least 11
days prior to the end of a billing period, the OER will appear on their bill for that same period. If
a consumer submits their attestation to their LDC fewer than 11 days prior to the end of a billing
period, then the OER will be applied to their bill on the first day of the next billing period. The
earliest date that a consumer can submit their attestation to their LDC will be the earlier of July 1,
2022, or when the regulation is filed.