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Electricity prices, periods and tiers for November 1

Electricity prices, periods and tiers for November 1

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) announced that electricity prices under the Regulated Price Plan (RPP) for households, small businesses, and farms will increase as of November 1, 2023. The winter Time-of-Use (TOU) hours and the change in the threshold for residential customers on Tiered pricing will take effect on November 1 as usual. 

Also effective November 1, 2023, the Ontario government’s Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) will increase to 19.3 per cent. The OER provides a rebate on the electricity bill of residential, small business, and farm customers. For a typical residential customer who uses 700 kWh of electricity per month, the OER will decrease bills by about $26 each month.

For more information on electricity prices, scroll to the tables below. 

Electricity rate plans: it's your choice

If you’re a residential or small business customer, you can choose to switch between Time-of-Use, Tiered and Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) prices.

With TOU and ULO, the price you pay depends on when you use electricity. With Tiered prices, you can use a certain amount of electricity each month at a lower price. Once that limit is exceeded, a higher price applies.

Time-of-Use prices

With Time-of-Use, your price depends on when you use electricity with three price periods: peak, mid-peak and off-peak.

Tiered prices

With Tiered prices, up to a certain threshold of electricity, you're charged one price, regardless of the time of day or day of week. Once exceeded, a higher price applies. 

Ultra-Low Overnight prices

Ultra-Low Overnight prices are the newest plan that encourages shifting high electricity usage activities to lower-demand periods overnight. This plan may be beneficial to electric vehicle owners. Check the OEB bill calculator before you switch at www.oeb.ca/choice.

Considering a switch?

Check the OEB bill calculator before you switch at www.oeb.ca/choice.  If you want to stay with your current price plan, no action is required.  Learn more about your pricing options and switching your plan with Utilities Kingston.

Electricity prices and plans

The TOU prices set by the OEB are shown in the table below. The table also shows the hours to which those prices apply.

TOU periods

Winter hours

 Nov. 1, 2023 TOU prices 

Off-Peak

Weekdays from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. All day weekends and holidays

8.7 ¢/kWh

Mid-Peak

Weekdays from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

12.2 ¢/kWh

On-Peak

Weekdays from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. 

18.2 ¢/kWh

The table below shows the prices for customers on the Tiered price plan as well as the kilowatt-hour thresholds. The seasonal change in the threshold for residential customers provides for an additional 400 kWh/month at the lower price in the Winter:

Tiers

Winter thresholds

Nov. 1, 2023 Tiered prices

Tier 1
  • Residential – first 1,000 kWh/month
  • Non-residential – first 750 kWh/month

 10.3 ¢/kWh
Tier 2
  • Residential – for electricity used above 1,000 kWh/month
  • Non-residential – for electricity used above 750 kWh/month

 12.5 ¢/kWh
The table below shows the prices for customers on the ULO price plan. The table also shows the hours to which those prices apply.

ULO price periods (year-round)

Nov. 1, 2023 ULO prices

ULO Ultra-Low Overnight     
Every day 11 p.m. – 7 a.m.

 2.8 ¢/kWh

ULO Weekend Off-Peak     
Weekends and holidays 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.

 8.7 ¢/kWh

ULO Mid-Peak     
Weekdays 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.  – 11 p.m.

12.2 ¢/kWh

ULO On-Peak     
Weekdays 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

28.6 ¢/kWh

Power is personal 

Residential and small business customers can choose their price plan, either TOU, Tiered or ULO pricing. Customers are not required to select a price plan, but if you wish to switch, you must notify Utilities Kingston by completing and submitting an election form.  Learn more about your pricing options and switching your plan with Utilities Kingston.

Programs to support electricity customers

Changes to the Ontario Electricity Support Program

Effective March 1, 2024, income eligibility thresholds for Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) will be increased, to better reflect economic conditions and upward trends in household incomes; resulting in more households becoming eligible to apply for OESP supports. Read more about the increase to OESP.

Additional information and resources 

  • Read the OEB news release.  
  • Refer to the MyUtilities customer portal to view your household usage of water, electricity and gas. Use the information to shift your electricity use to off-peak times when it costs less.

Did you know? Kingston Hydro electricity customers receive their bill through Utilities Kingston. Many benefit from the convenience of one combined bill for all their utility services, which may also include water, wastewater and gas. A combined bill helps lower costs for all rate payers. Learn more about your electricity bill, including TOU, Tiered and ULO pricing.