Rates

If you’re a residential or small business customer, you can choose to be charged Time-of-Use rates, Tiered rates or Ultra-Low Overnight rates. The Ontario Energy Board sets rates once a year on November 1 under the Regulated Price Plan (RPP). Not sure which option to choose? This Ontario Energy Board video can help you understand the differences.

Understanding Time-of-Use (TOU) Rates

With Time-of-Use (TOU) rates, the price you pay depends on when you use electricity. There are three TOU price periods:

• Off-peak, when demand for electricity is lowest. Ontario households use most of their electricity – nearly two thirds of it – during off-peak hours.
• Mid-peak, when demand for electricity is moderate. These periods are during the daytime, but not the busiest times of day.
• On-peak, when demand for electricity is generally higher. These are the busier times of day – generally when people are cooking, starting up their computers and running heaters or air conditioners.

Understanding Tiered Rates

With a Tiered Rate pricing plan, you can use a certain amount of electricity each month at a lower price. Once that limit (called a threshold) is exceeded, a higher price applies. The threshold changes with the season to reflect changing usage patterns – for example, there are fewer hours of daylight in the winter and some customers use electric heating.

Tiered rates give you the flexibility to use electricity at any time of day at the same price, although that price will change if you exceed the threshold during the month.

Understanding Ultra Low Overnight (ULO) Rates

With the Ultra Low Overnight Rate (ULO) Plan, the price depends on when you use electricity. This means you can help manage your electricity costs by shifting your usage to lower price periods when possible. There are four ULO price periods:

• Ultra-Low Overnight, when demand for electricity is lowest on average.
• Weekend Off-peak, when demand for electricity is generally lower.
• Mid-peak, when demand for electricity is moderate.
• On-peak, when demand for electricity is highest on average.

The ULO price periods are the same in the summer as they are in the winter. On weekends and holidays, the lowest two rates are in effect.

How to change price plans

Power is personal. Some customers may prefer TOU, ULO or TIERED prices. For instance, customers who work different shifts may be able to use more of their electricity at times when lower off-peak prices apply, and some customers, like those who charge their electric vehicles, may also want to take advantage of the Ultra-Low Overnight price that applies from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. every day. Others may favour Tiered prices because they want the flexibility to do their household chores at any time of the day, or their total usage rarely exceeds 600 kWh in a month in summer, or 1,000 kWh in a month in winter (see Understanding Tiered Rates for details).

There is no guarantee you will save money if you switch between TOU, ULO and Tiered prices. The total bill impact of switching will vary depending on how much electricity is used in a month and when the usage occurs.

When considering Ultra-Low Overnight rate plan please review the current rates and schedule.  Note that the On-Peak rate is unique to this plan and the current rate is 24 cents/kWh.

Whatever plan you choose, one thing remains certain: the less electricity you use, the less you pay.

On the OEB website you will find two helpful videos – “Choosing your electricity plan” and “Power is Personal” as well as a bill calculator where you can input your usage to compare rate plans and help you make your choice.

What you need to know

• You’ll need to fill out an election form to notify us that you want to switch. 
• We accept election forms by email or mail. Email the completed form to utilitybilling@tillsonburg.ca or mail to Tillsonburg Hydro Inc, 10 Lisgar Ave, Tillsonburg ON N4G5A5
• You should have a recent electricity bill on hand when filling out the form, as you will need your utility account number. 
• Within 10 business days of receiving your election form, we will tell you if your election form is accepted
• A switch between price plans can only take effect at the start of a billing period. 
• Between the time that you submit your election form and the time that your choice takes effect, you will continue to pay pricing under your old price plan. 
• Net Metered Customers will have the option to switch rate plans  starting January 1, 2024 to meet with the OEB compliance requirements.

About rates

The rates shown above appear on the electricity line of your bill and are only for the electricity you use. They do not include other charges like delivery. If you have a contract with an electricity retailer, you pay the price agreed upon in the contract, not the price set by the OEB.

Effective November 1, 2023, the Ontario government's Ontario Electricity Rebate will
change to 19.3%.

• Time-of-Use, Tier Pricing and Ultra Low Rate Pricing Bill Insert (November 2023)
• Time-of-Use and Tier-Pricing Bill Insert (May 2023)
• Time-of-Use and Tier-Pricing Bill Insert (November 2022)