Electricity: Time-of-Use Schedules and Rates Change Nov. 1
This is an old, archived article with outdated Time-of-Use information. For the most up-to-date rates and schedules, please visit the Ontario Energy Board.
On November 1, both the schedule and rates for Time-of-use electricity pricing are set to change. In addition to the schedule changes that occur each May and November, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is adjusting electricity prices to accommodate the rising costs of electricity generation and to account for variation between previous estimates and actual costs. Learn more from the OEB news release.
Kingston Hydro bills its standard supply service residential and small business customers based on Time-of-use (TOU) pricing for the electricity commodity portion of their bill. This means that customers are charged less for the electricity commodity at times when the demand for it is less. For example, you’ll save money by doing your laundry on weekends or later in the evening.
As of November 1, TOU schedules and pricing will change as follows:
| Period | Schedule | Price Change |
|---|---|---|
| Off-peak (the most cost effective time to use electricity) | 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays, and on weekends and statutory holidays | 7.2 cents/kWh (up from 6.7 cents/kWh) |
| Mid-peak | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays | 10.9 cents/kWh (up from 10.4 cents/kWh) |
| On-peak | 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays | 12.9 cents/kWh (up from 12.4 cents/kWh) |
The Ontario Energy Board sets electricity rates for consumers. Your electricity bill is made up of several charges, including for the electricity commodity and delivery. The latter includes transmission to and distribution throughout Central Kingston. Kingston Hydro retains part of this delivery portion of the bill and uses it to maintain and upgrade local infrastructure.
While the commodity rate is rising 0.5 cents per kiloWatt hour on Nov. 1 (for OEB-approved Time-of-Use rates), the rates relating to transmission and distribution remain unchanged. Kingston Hydro is required by the Ontario Energy Board to charge the commodity rate increase to consumers and then remit it to the Independent Electricity System Operator.
Shift your electricity use:
Did you know you can view your electricity consumption from the MyUtilities customer portal? The data is updated daily and can be used to help households shift their electricity use to times when it costs less. Customers who want to do more to save money are invited to view nearly one hundred conservation tips to help them conserve energy and water.
Related information:
For further information, we invite you to explore the following online resources provided by Utilities Kingston and Kingston Hydro:
- Understanding Your Electricity Bill
- Rates and Regulatory Affairs
- Information about electricity conservation programs and incentives offered by Kingston Hydro
- Learn about Utilities Kingston and its affiliation with Kingston Hydro