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Utilities Kingston website

Utility rates change Jan. 1

Utility rates change Jan. 1

Learn about changes to your electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater and water heater rental bills, taking effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

Electricity rates are changing Jan. 1

Kingston Hydro filed an application (EB-2019-0048) to implement the fifth year of its approved custom incentive rate-setting framework covering the period 2016-2020, for rates effective Jan. 1, 2020. A final Decision and Rate Order was issued by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) on Dec. 12, 2019.

For residential and small business customers, distribution charges roll up into the ‘Delivery’ line on the electricity bill, along with pass-through charges such as retail transmission and line loss. Distribution charges, as well as some pass-through charges within the ‘Delivery’ line, have changed.

As a result of the OEB’s findings in Kingston Hydro Corporation’s 2020 Distribution Rate Application Decision and Rate Order, effective Jan. 1, 2020, there will be a monthly total bill increase of $3.77 for a residential customer consuming 750 kWh. The distribution change accounts for $0.61 or 2.41 per cent of the monthly total bill increase.

Out of every dollar we collect from our residential customers, 21 cents stays local to operate and maintain the local electricity distribution system. The other 79 cents is paid to provincial entities. The distribution rate change applies to our 21 cent portion.

Learn more about electricity rates from Kingston Hydro's website.

Water, wastewater, natural gas and water heater rental rates are changing Jan. 1

In Feb. 2019, the council of the City of Kingston approved four-year rate schedules for the water and wastewater utilities, and approved two-year rate schedules for the natural gas local distribution rates and the appliance rental. The following are typical bill impacts, beginning on Jan. 1, 2020:

  • Water and wastewater: there will be a 2.8 per cent combined monthly bill increase of $2.67 for a typical residential customer.
  • Natural gas: the 2.0 per cent increase in the portion of the natural gas bill that represents local distribution costs means that the average residential customer will see a monthly increase of $0.79 in 2020.
  • Water heater rentals: the 2.0 per cent increase in water heater rental rates means that a residential customer with a natural gas power vent 50 water heater rental will see a monthly increase of $0.56 in 2020.

Reports and rate schedules

Contact

For further information, contact Randy Murphy, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary for Utilities Kingston at rmurphy@utilitieskingston.com or 613-546-1181, extension 2317.