Residential
COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program FAQs
The Government of Ontario is providing $9 million for its new COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), to support residential customers struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.
CEAP provides a one time, on-bill credit to eligible residential electricity and natural gas customers to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments. The program is being delivered directly by electricity and natural gas utilities and unit sub-meter providers (USMP), further to rules laid out by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB).
Utilities will begin accepting applications for CEAP on July 13, 2020.
Which customers are eligible for CEAP?
Residential electricity and natural gas customers may be eligible for CEAP funding if they meet all the following criteria:
- The account has an Overdue Balance with respect to one or more electricity bills issued since March 17, 2020. This includes accounts subject to an arrears payment agreement, and
- The account holder has provided a complete Application Form.
Can customers apply for CEAP to help with both their electricity and gas bills?
Yes, but customers can only receive a CEAP credit once for electricity and once for gas.
How can a customer apply for CEAP?
Apply for CEAP through your electricity or natural gas beginning July 13, 2020. Customers can apply for CEAP by email or by mail.
Utilities are expected to process applications in the order in which they are received, and to process complete applications within 10 business days of receipt.
CEAP funding is limited. Submitting an application for CEAP to your utility does not guarantee funding.
Is there a deadline to apply for CEAP?
Funding for the program is limited, and utilities and USMPs are expected to process applications in the order in which they are received. CEAP funding is not guaranteed even after a complete application has been submitted.
The government is making $9 million available for CEAP to support residential energy customers. Each utility has been allocated a share of that amount, based on how many residential customers they have. Your utility or USMP will stop delivering CEAP once their allocated share of CEAP funding runs out.
What is the maximum CEAP credit that a customer can receive?
CEAP funding is limited. Each utility has been allocated a share of the total pool of CEAP funds, and they are expected to process applications in the order in which they are received. Submitting an application for CEAP to your utility does not guarantee funding.
Electricity Customers
Eligible electricity customers may qualify for a one-time CEAP credit up to a maximum of $750.
When will a customer see the credit on their bill?
Utilities are expected to process complete CEAP applications within 10 business days of receipt.
Provided that your utility or USMP has CEAP funds remaining, the credit will be applied to the next available bill issued to you after your CEAP application been assessed as complete by your utility or USMP.
Have you previously applied for and received funding under this program?
If you have previously applied for and recevied funding, you can apply again to receive additional funding. Combined funding will not exceed a maximum credit of $750