Does Your Ontario Electricity Plan Actually Fit Your Life?
Time-of-Use, Tiered or Ultra-Low Overnight? The best choice depends on when your household actually uses power—not on what works for your neighbour.
How do you choose the right Ontario electricity plan? Eligible residential customers can choose Time-of-Use (TOU), Tiered or Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) pricing. There is no universal cheapest plan. The right choice depends on when your household uses electricity, whether you have electric heating or an EV, and how much usage you can move to lower-priced hours. Compare several months of your actual usage with the Ontario Energy Board’s bill calculator before switching.
A neighbour who works nights or charges an electric vehicle overnight may love ultra-low overnight rates. A household that is home all day may prefer the predictability of Tiered pricing. A family that can shift laundry, dishwashing and other flexible loads to evenings or weekends may find Time-of-Use works well.
The important point is simple: your electricity plan should fit your household’s real routine.
Three plans, three different logics
Ontario’s regulated price plans do not calculate electricity charges the same way. TOU and ULO depend on when you use power. Tiered pricing depends mainly on how much you use during the billing period.
| Plan | Current pricing | May fit households that… | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-of-Use | 9.1¢ off-peak 14.6¢ mid-peak 18.9¢ on-peak | Can shift flexible use to evenings, overnight hours, weekends and holidays. | Winter and summer weekday schedules are different. |
| Tiered | 11.2¢ for the first 1,000 winter kWh/month 13.2¢ above that | Want the same rate throughout the day and usually remain near or below the threshold. | The residential threshold falls to 600 kWh/month in summer. |
| Ultra-Low Overnight | 3.7¢ overnight 9.1¢ weekend off-peak 14.6¢ mid-peak 37.7¢ weekday on-peak | Can move substantial use—especially EV charging—to 11 p.m.–7 a.m. | Weekday use from 4–9 p.m. costs significantly more. |
OEB Regulated Price Plan electricity commodity rates effective November 1, 2026. These figures do not represent the entire bill; delivery, regulatory charges, taxes and applicable rebates also affect the total.
What should you examine on your bill?
Start with several recent bills or your utility’s online usage portal. One bill can be misleading because weather, vacations and seasonal equipment change how a home uses electricity.
Winter changes the picture
Ontario’s winter TOU schedule runs from November 1 through April 30. On weekdays, the winter on-peak periods are 7–11 a.m. and 5–7 p.m. The Tiered residential threshold also rises to 1,000 kWh per month in winter, compared with 600 kWh in summer.
If your home uses electric heat, portable heaters or more lighting during shorter days, compare a winter bill—not just summer usage—before deciding.
Who should look closely at ULO?
ULO may deserve a closer look if you regularly charge an EV overnight or can schedule meaningful electrical use between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. But its weekday 4–9 p.m. rate is 37.7¢/kWh, so households with heavy after-work cooking, laundry, heating or cooling should model that period carefully.
How to switch without guessing
Utilities must advise customers if an election form cannot be processed or indicate when the new plan will begin. A change takes effect at the start of a billing period. RPP customers are not locked into the selected plan and may switch again through their utility.
Not every customer can choose
The choice generally applies to residential and small-business customers with smart meters who are billed under the OEB’s Regulated Price Plan. Some customers with meters that cannot support time-based billing cannot choose TOU or ULO. In individually metered condominiums or apartments served by a unit sub-meter provider, the building’s principal consumer—not the individual resident—typically makes the plan decision for the building.
The Team Bush homeowner takeaway
Your home’s operating costs are part of how the property fits your life. Electricity pricing is not the most exciting household decision—but matching the plan to your real routine can make your bill easier to understand and may reduce unnecessary cost.
Use your own data, compare more than one season, and revisit the decision whenever your household changes.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one cheapest Ontario electricity plan?
No. The lowest bill depends on how much electricity your household uses and when it uses it. The OEB does not guarantee savings from switching plans.
When do Ontario’s winter TOU hours apply?
The winter TOU schedule applies from November 1 through April 30. Summer TOU hours apply from May 1 through October 31.
Is Ultra-Low Overnight automatically best for an EV owner?
No. Overnight charging can make ULO attractive, but the household’s weekday 4–9 p.m. use must also be considered because that is ULO’s highest-priced period.
Can I switch back if the new plan does not fit?
Yes. Customers eligible for price-plan choice under the Regulated Price Plan can switch again by following their utility’s election process.
Can a condo owner choose an electricity price plan?
It depends on how the unit is metered and billed. Customers billed by a unit sub-meter provider generally cannot make an individual choice; the building’s principal consumer makes the decision.
Does your home still fit the way you live?
Team Bush offers practical local real estate guidance for homeowners across Hamilton, Burlington and the surrounding communities.
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Listing prices reviewed November 12, 2026. Availability and prices can change; confirm current details with Team Bush.
Authoritative resources
- Ontario Energy Board — Current electricity rates
- Ontario Energy Board — Choosing your electricity price plan
- Ontario Energy Board — Residential bill calculator
This article provides general homeowner information, not individualized energy or financial advice. Rates, rebates and eligibility can change. Confirm current details with the Ontario Energy Board and your electricity utility.
