Understanding your electricity bill
Overview
Kingston Hydro electricity customers receive their bill through Utilities Kingston. Most 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.
Electricity rate plans: it's your choice!
If you’re a residential or small business customer who pays Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity prices, you can choose to switch to Tiered or Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) prices. The ULO rates will be available starting November 1, 2023.
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.
The TOU, Tiered and ULO prices apply to the electricity commodity portion of your bill.
If you want to continue paying TOU prices, no action is required. Utilities Kingston's electricity customers, who would like to switch to Tiered or ULO prices, can use our online election form or contact customer service at 613-546-1181.
For more information on TOU, Tiered and ULO pricing and tools to help you decide which price structure is right for you, please visit www.oeb.ca/choice.
Compare electricity price plans and calculate an estimated monthly electricity bill with this tool from the Ontario Energy Board.
Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing
Your price depends on when you use electricity with three price periods: Peak, Mid-Peak and Off-Peak.
Tiered pricing
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 (ULO) pricing
The newest plan that encourages shifting high electricity usage activities to lower-demand periods overnight. May be beneficial to electric vehicle owners. Check the OEB bill calculator before you switch at www.oeb.ca/choice.
Learn more about electricity rates
- Electricity rates, from the Ontario Energy Board
- Residential, and commercial electricity rates, at Kingston Hydro
- Electricity commodity purchasing options, at Kingston Hydro
Glossary of terms
The Kingston Hydro website provides definitions of energy terms that are found on the electricity bill for low volume electric customers.
Energy retailers
If you have a contract with an energy retailer or are thinking about signing with one, your bill will look a little different than customers billed on TOU pricing. A customer signed with a retailer is charged the contract price for the electricity commodity portion of your bill and also a global adjustment charge.
If you are approached to sign or renew a gas or electricity contract for your home or small business, it is important to know who you are dealing with. Energy company salespeople must wear an ID badge and give you a business card. See the OEB web site for four things to remember if you are approached to sign an energy contract.
Additionally, in order to provide low volume consumers with information regarding their retail energy options, the OEB provides lists of active licensees that market gas or retail electricity to low volume consumers.
Smart meters and Time-of-Use (TOU)
All our residential customers have smart meters to automatically record electricity consumption on an hourly basis. This helps consumers take advantage of TOU pricing.
For more details, visit Smart meters, at the OEB web site.
- it clearly defines the different time-of-use periods that for weekdays and weekends
- also includes a reference to the holiday schedule for time-of-use prices
Ontario Clean Energy Benefit
The 5-year Ontario Clean Energy Benefit (OCEB) reduced customers’ electricity bills by up to 10% while the province transitioned to clean energy sources and new infrastructure. This program concluded at the end of December, 2015, as planned.
Your electricity bill includes the costs for the electricity that you use, the services your local utility provides and some other costs as outlined at the link below.
The total amount on your energy bill comes from four costs, of which only a portion is retained by your local utility. Visit Ontario Energy Board's "Understanding your electricity bill" to learn more.
Ontario Electricity Rebate
On November 1, 2019, the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) was applied to bills for most residential consumers, farms, and many small businesses.
As of November 1, 2023, the Ontario Electricity Rebate provides an 19.3 per cent rebate on electricity charges for eligible customers, and appears on your electricity bill as a single line item.
For more information about electricity rates, visit our webpage. To learn more about the Ontario Electricity Rebate, visit the Utilities Kingston OER page and the Ontario Energy Board website.
Ontario Electricity Support Program
Electricity customers from lower income households are encouraged to apply online for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) at OntarioElectricitySupport.ca. For assistance with completing the application, customers can contact United Way Simcoe Muskoka at 1-855-487-5327.