The Average Cost of Electricity (Hydro) Bills in Ontario
How Does Electricity Work in Ontario?
The Ontario Energy Board regulates the energy sector of the province and is responsible for electricity generation (Ontario Power Generation) and transmission—connecting generators that produce power, transmitters that send it across the province, and local utilities. You can also buy your electricity from a private company that sells electricity under contract (called an electricity retailer). According to OEB, fewer than 1 in 10 customers in Ontario buy their electricity from an electricity retailer. You can find the list of licensed retailers in Ontario on the OEB website.
Power generation in Ontario is a mix of nuclear energy, water power, natural gas, and some other renewable resources. More than half the province gets their power from nuclear energy.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of Electricity (Hydro)?
The following factors affect the cost of electricity (hydro) generation:
- Power plant costs
- Transmission and distribution system
- Weather conditions
- Regulations
- Seasons: and location
The Ontario Energy Board reviews the rates twice a year, on May 1 and Nov 1, and if necessary, they adjust them.
If we specifically talk about your bill, you are charged for the following::
- Cost of electricity itself
- Regulatory costs
- Taxes
- Other delivery costs (paid to IESCO)
- Distribution and transmission over high-voltage lines (Hydro One)
Moreover, you are also required to pay a share of the Global Adjustment. It is the difference between that guaranteed price and the money the generators earn in the wholesale marketplace.
The delivery rates include:
- Customer Service Charge
- Distribution Charge
- Transmission Charge
- Line Loss Adjustment
These delivery charges can vary depending on the age and condition of each utility’s equipment, size of the utility service area, customer density, etc. To better understand your electricity bill, you can visit the OEB.
Average Electricity Consumption in Ontario by Season
The average electricity consumption in Ontario varies by season because more electricity is used during the cold winter months. Small businesses use a similar amount of electricity year-round because they are constantly either running their heating or air conditioning.
| Season | Average Electricity Consumption |
| Residential (Winter) | 1,000 kWh |
| Residential (Summer) | 600 kWh |
| Small Businesses (Year-Round) | 750 kWh |
Cost of Electricity in Ontario Based on Time-of-Use Rates
The Ontario Energy Board sets the electricity rates. There are three different types of rates:
- Time-of-Use (TOU): Depends on when you use electricity, Off-peak, Mid-peak, and On-peak.
- Tiered: You can use a certain amount of energy each month at a lower price. Once you exceed the threshold, the price goes up accordingly.
- ULO: The ULO price periods are consistent in both summer and winter. On weekends and holidays, the cheapest rates apply throughout the entire day.
| Time-of-Use | Summer | Winter | Rate |
| Off-peak | Weekdays 7 p.m. — 7 a.m. Weekends and holidays all day | Weekdays (7p.m. — 7 a.m.) , weekends & holidays | 8.7 ¢/kWh |
| Mid-peak | Weekdays 7 a.m. — 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. — 7 p.m. | Weekdays 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | 12.2 ¢/kWh |
| On-peak | Weekdays 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Weekdays 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. | 18.2 ¢/kWh |
Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO)
| Time-of-Use | All Year | ULO Prices/Rates (¢/kWh) |
| Ultra-Low Overnight | Every day 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. | 2.8 ¢/kWh |
| Weekend Off-Peak | Weekends and holidays 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. | 8.7 ¢/kWh |
| Mid-Peak | Weekdays 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. | 12.2 ¢/kWh |
| On-Peak | Weekdays 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. | 28.6 ¢/kWh |
Average Cost of Electricity Bills in Ontario
| Electricity (hydro) | Off-Peak8.7¢/kWh | Mid-Peak12.2¢/kWh | On-Peak18.2¢/kWh | Average Cost |
| 1000 kWh | $87.00 | $122.00 | $182.00 | $130.33 |
| 600 kWh | $52.20 | $73.20 | $109.20 | $78.20 |
| 750 kWh | $65.25 | $91.50 | $136.50 | $97.75 |
| $102.09 |
You can calculate your own Internet bill on the OEB website.
The Average Cost of Water Bills in Ontario
How Does Water Work in Ontario?
Every city in Ontario has a robust water system in place to deliver water to residential and non-residential customers. The customers are charged for how many cubic meters of water they consume in a specified time period.
In Toronto, for instance, the billing type is divided into two types:
- Low Volume Water User (up to 5,000 cubic meters per year): You will be billed every four months or three times a year. You can also sign up for monthly utility billing.
- High Volume Water User (more than 5,000 cubic meters per year): You will be billed on a monthly basis.
*Low-income seniors or a low-income person living with disabilities who consume less than 400 cubic meters (m³) of water each year, may be eligible for a water rebate.
Water bills in Ontario are usually issued once every two months for most residential properties.
Irrespective of the volume used, the water utility bill has these fixed charges on it:
- Water (distribution, collection, treatment, and infrastructure maintenance and renewal.)
- Wastewater
- Fire supply
- Stormwater
The water, wastewater, and fire supply fixed charges depend on the property’s meter size. Stormwater fees are based on property type, determined by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.
Average Monthly Water Bills Based on Meter Size in Ontario
| Meter Size (mm) | Average Cost |
| 25mm | $44.69 |
| 40mm | $89.40 |
| 76 mm | $312.87 |
Average Monthly Water Bills by Cubic Meter in Ontario
| Cubic Meter (m3) monthly usage | Average Cost (Rate if paid on or before due date)$4.52/m3/m3 | Average Cost (Rate if paid after due date)$4.76/m3 |
| 10 m31-2 people | $45.20 | $47.60 |
| 20 m32-3 people | $90.40 | $95.20 |
| 30 m33-5 people | $135.60 | $142.80 |
The Average Cost of Gas Bills in Ontario
How Does Gas Work in Ontario?
The Ontario Energy Board regulates most of the natural gas utilities in Ontario. You have two options in Ontario for natural gas:
- Buy from a utility
- Buy from an energy retailer (also known as a natural gas marketer)
If you decide to buy from a utility and go with Enbridge, Union or EPCOR, the Ontario Energy Board sets your natural gas rates. OEB regulates neither the rates for Kitchener Utilities or Utilities Kingston nor the prices that energy retailers charge in their contracts.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of Gas?
Natural gas is traded on North American markets, and the prices fluctuate depending on current supply and demand. Major weather events can also affect the market price. OEB sets the rate for the natural gas that you use four times a year.
The Quarterly Rate Adjustment Mechanism (QRAM) plays an important role in the natural gas sector of Ontario. Every three months, the natural gas companies apply to OEB to adjust the price they sell natural gas to their customers. The gas company purchases gas in a competitive market and passes it down to you with no markup. So, the whole pricing mechanism is based on future forecasting.
Average Cost of Gas Bills per Month in Ontario
| Gas company | Gas rate | Monthly Use* | Monthly Cost |
| Enbridge Gas Inc. – Union South Rate Zone | 19.2506 ¢/m3 | 183 m3 | $352.28 |
| Enbridge Gas Inc. | 13.7883 ¢/m3 | 183 m3 | $252.32 |
| EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership (Aylmer) | 20.8848 ¢/m3 | 183 m3 | $382.19 |
*The monthly use is for a typical residential consumption. Please note that the natural gas usage and pricing are totally dependent on the season and supply & demand. It can also vary on the home size, the number of persons living there and the actual heating system installed.
Calculate your own gas bill on the OEB website.
The Average Cost of Internet Bills in Ontario
How Does the Internet Work in Ontario?
There are four popular types of internet connections available in Ontario:
- DSL (5-45 Mbps)
- Cable (20-200 Mbps)
- Fiber-optic (50-1000 Mbps)
- Satellite ($50-$150)
Internet providers charge you based on the internet speed (download and upload) and bandwidth. Moreover, the type of internet connection and the type of internet plan can also have an impact on the prices.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of the Internet?
The following factors affect the cost of the Internet:
- Type of internet connection
- Speed and bandwidth
- Province/city
- The provider itself
Average Cost of Monthly Internet Bill in Ontario
According to the CRTC, the average person in Ontario pays $64.00 per month for 50 Mbps with unlimited usage. Here are the average Internet costs in Ontario based on type of connection and speed.
| Type of Internet | Download Speed | Average Cost |
| DSL | 6 Mbps | $32.95/month |
| Cable | 100 Mbps | $44.95/month |
| Fiber-optic | 50 Mbps | $47.95/month |
| Satellite Internet | 1024 Mbps | $100/month |
The Average Cost of Cable Bills in Ontario
How Does Cable Work in Ontario?
There are many cable TV providers in Ontario for you to choose from. Few of them still operate legacy cable TV services, but most of them now use IPTV technology to serve new customers.
Each of these cable TV providers offers various packages, prices, and features. So you must know what you’re looking for, what channels you want, and how many you want.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of Cable?
Cable TV is pretty much straight forward, but here are some factors that affect the cost:
- Number of channels
- Type of channels (sports, international, local, news, entertainment, etc.)
- HD Channels
- VOD (Video on Demand) availability
What Are Some Affordable Alternatives to Cable?
If legacy cable TV is not your cup of tea, there are some affordable alternatives to a cable. Here are a few:
- IPTV
- Satellite TV
- YouTube TV
- Sling TV
- Hulu with Live TV
- FuboTV
- DirecTV Stream
Average Cost of Cable Bills per Month in Ontario
According to our calculations, the average person in Ontario pays $49.00 per month for their cable plan. Here are the average cable costs in Ontario based on their type of plan.
| Type of cable plan | Average Cost |
| About 30 Channels | $19.95/month |
| About 65 Channels | $49.95/month |
| About 100 Channels | $74.95/month |
The Average Cost of Home Phone Bills in Ontario
How Do Home Phones Work in Ontario?
Home phone services are readily available in the whole province. Many service providers out there still offer unlimited calling within Canada and USA with low long-distance calling rates. But some of these service providers offer limited availability, meaning that they might not be offering services in your area. Make sure you keep this in mind. You should always keep reliability, features, and pricing in mind to grab the best deal.
Just for your convenience, here are some features that make your home phone experience much more exciting:
- Caller ID with name
- Remote voicemail access
- Call waiting with caller
- Caller ID block
- Long-distance calling
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of Home Phones?
You may think traditional landlines are obsolete, but they offer several advantages and added features. These added features decide how much the service provider is going to charge you. Here are some of the factors that affect the cost of home phones:
- Number of countries included in the plan
- Added taxes or fees
- Added features like (enhanced call forwarding, 3-way calling, call transfer – attended, online account management, etc.)
Average Cost of Monthly Home Phone Bills in Ontario
According to the CRTC, the average household pays $34 for their landline home phone. Here are some examples of home phone bill costs in Ontario based on their type of plan.
| Type of home phone plan | Average Cost |
| Unlimited Canada and USA Unlimited calling within Canada and USA & Low long-distance rates | $19.95/month |
| Unlimited WorldUnlimited calling to over 60 countries & Low long-distance rates | $26.95/month |
|
Home Phone Lite Unlimited local calling & Affordable long distance plans |
$55.49/month |
VMEDIA (Feb 2024) & Bell (Feb 2024)
The Average Cost of Utility Bills in Toronto
Average Monthly Utility Bill Cost in Toronto
| Utility | Average Monthly Cost |
| Electricity1200kWh mid-peak at 12.20 ¢/kWh | $146.40 |
| Water 20 m3 (2-3 people) | $90.40 |
| Gas | $328.93 |
| Internet Fiber | $64.00 |
| Cable | $49.00 |
| Home Phone | $34.00 |
| Total average utility cost in Toronto Gas not included |
$383.80 |
Toronto is one of the most expensive cities to live in Ontario. Learn more on the cost of living in Toronto.
VMEDIA (Feb 2024), Bell (Feb 2024), City of Toronto (Jan 2024) & Toronto Hydro (Jan 2024)
The Average Cost of Utilities Across Canada
| Province | Electricity | Water | Gas | Internet | Cable | Home Phone | Total Monthly Cost |
| Quebec | $199.74 | Included in hydro | $61.66 | $69 | $30.24 | $24.98 | $323.96 (gas not included) |
| Ontario | $102.09 | $90.40 | $328.93 | $64.00 | $49.00 | $34.00 | $339.49 (gas not included) |
| Alberta | $106 | $78 | $39.41 | $74 | $35 | $40 | $270.41 (electricity not included) |
| British Columbia | $187 | $244 | $86.48 | $75 | $23 | $43 | $572 (gas not included) |
| Manitoba | $113.00 | $66.40 | $98.00 | $67.00 | $89 | $47 | $382.40 (gas not included) |
| Saskatchewan | $210.15 | $97.06 | $123.94 | $69.00 | $70.00 | $21.54 | $467.75 (gas not included) |
| PEI | $147 | $105 | $363 | $72 | $35.95 | $23 | $382.95 (gas not included) |
| New Brunswick | $120 | $79 | $130 | $70 | $52 | $23 | $344 (gas not included) |
| Nova Scotia | $195 | $108 | $179 | $71 | $25 | $21 | $420 (gas not included) |
Conclusion
Utilities ensure that your household functions properly and remains comfortable, but the cost is recurring and variable. Knowing average household utility costs can help you reduce your usage and save tons of money at the end of the year.
Before moving, it’s important to be aware of the average cost of bills in Ontario. Ontario is one of the most expensive provinces in Canada, but the utility costs and other living expenses may vary depending on which city you live in.
Are you moving to Ontario soon? Check out 7 things to know when moving to Ontario.
