Understanding My Bill
It’s important to understand the different sections and charges that make up your bill. By understanding your bill, you can make necessary changes within your home or business to reduce energy consumption and cost.
Below are sample bills outlining the different sections and charges.
Residential and Small Business
Account Number
Account Number
Your Account Number is a 10-digit number that identifies your unique customer information profile with ERTH Power. This number is located in the top right corner of your bill and in the lower right portion of the bill.
TIP: For online banking, enter all 10 digits of your account number without the dash.
Amount Due and Due Date
Amount Due and Due Date
This is the amount you currently owe and the date that payment is due by. For customers that are signed up for pre-authorized payments, you will see a "Withdrawal Date" which is the date on which the payment will automatically be withdrawn from your bank account.
Previous Balance and Balance Forward
Previous Balance and Balance Forward
The previous balance represents the amount owing on your previous bill. Any payments made since your previous bill will show below previous balance and a credit (CR). The balance forward represents the outstanding amount that is still owing on your account, which will be carried forward on your current bill.
Electricity Charges
Electricity Charges
This amount represents the electricity supplied during this billing period. Kilowatt-hour (kWh) rates are set by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). Customers on the Time-of-Use (TOU) price plan will see a breakdown of how much electricity they used at off peak, mid peak, and on peak rates. Customers on the Tiered price plan will see a breakdown of how much electricity they used by tier.
Delivery
Delivery
This is the cost of delivering electricity from generation stations to your home or business. Learn more about Electricity Rates and Charges.
Regulatory
Regulatory
Regulatory charges are the costs of administering the wholesale electricity system and maintaining the reliability of the provincial grid and include the costs associated with funding Ministry of Energy conservation and renewable energy programs.
Other Electric Charges
Other Electric Charges
This is where any other electric charges will be displayed, including overdue interest charges for late payment.
HST
HST
This amount represents the provincial Harmonized Sales Tax.
Ontario Electricity Rebate
Ontario Electricity Rebate
Effective November 1, 2019, the Government of Ontario introduced the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER), which provides eligible customers with a rebate on their electricity bill. If you are eligible, this rebate will automatically appear on your bill.
Water/Wastewater Charges
Water/Wastewater Charges
ERTH Power bills for water/wastewater services on behalf of some municipalities. Customers residing in the these municipalities will see a breakdown of their water and wastewater charges, along with any additional charges such as overdue interest for late payment on water/wastewater services. These funds are passed on to the municipalities.
Current Charges
Current Charges
This is a total of all current charges. It does not include balance forward from previous bills.
Total Amount Due
Total Amount Due
This is the total amount you owe, including all current charges and any outstanding amount owing from previous bills.
Messages
Messages
This box contains important information, updates and tips that relate to your ERTH Power account.
Consumption History
Consumption History
This chart outlines your consumption history over the past 12 months.
Usage Comparison
Usage Comparison
This chart shows your usage in comparison to the previous month and then same period in the previous year.
Meter Number(s) and Readings
Meter Number(s) and Readings
This section provides your meter number(s), meter reading(s) and read date for the current billing period and previous billing period.
Commercial
Account Number
Account Number
Your Account Number is a 10-digit number that identifies your unique customer information profile with ERTH Power. This number is located in the top right corner of your bill and in the lower right portion of the bill.
Amount Due and Due Date
Amount Due and Due Date
This is the amount you currently owe and the date that payment is due by. For customers that are signed up for pre-authorized payments, you will see a "Withdrawal Date" which is the date on which the payment will automatically be withdrawn from your bank account.
Previous Balance and Balance Forward
Previous Balance and Balance Forward
The previous balance represents the amount owing on your previous bill. Any payments made since your previous bill will show below previous balance and a credit (CR). The balance forward represents the outstanding amount that is still owing on your account, which will be carried forward on your current bill.
Cost of Power
Cost of Power
Electricity prices change in response to supply and demand. Businesses with a peak demand of 50 kilowatts or more pay the wholesale price for electricity.
The wholesale price of electricity is determined in the real-time market administered by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). The IESO calculates the hourly Ontario energy price (HOEP), which is charged to large consumers that participate in the market, as well as local distribution companies, such as ERTH Power, who recover it from the subset of customers that pay the market price.
The HOEP is the average of the twelve market clearing prices (MCP) set in each hour. A new MCP is set every five minutes. Averages are weighted by the amount of electricity used throughout the province within each hour.
Global Adjustment
Global Adjustment
Global adjustment (GA) covers the cost of building new electricity infrastructure, maintaining and refurbishing existing generation resources and covers the cost of delivering conservation programs in order to ensure adequate electricity supply over the long term in the province of Ontario.
Monthly Service Charge
Monthly Service Charge
This is a fixed monthly charge that in part covers ERTH’s costs associated with operating the business.
Distribution
Distribution
This is a variable charge that covers ERTH’s costs associated with operating the business.
Transmission Connection
Transmission Connection
The connection charge covers the cost of connecting the distribution system to Hydro One’s transmission lines, as well as the cost of transforming electricity from high transmission voltages to lower voltages for distribution. This charge is collected on behalf of Hydro One.
Transmission Network
Transmission Network
The network charge covers the cost of delivering the electricity from the generating stations to our region through Hydro One’s transmission system. This charge is collected on behalf of Hydro One.
Wholesale Market Service
Wholesale Market Service
The Wholesale Market Service Charge includes the cost of services provided by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to operate the wholesale electricity market and maintain the reliability of the high voltage power grid. It also covers certain costs incurred by local utilities to connect renewable generation. ERTH Power collects this charge, without mark-up, on behalf of the Independent Electricity System Operator.
Standard Supply Service Administration Charge
Standard Supply Service Administration Charge (SSS Administration Charge)
This represents an administration charge of $0.25 per bill. This charge is set by the Ontario Energy Board and is the same for all utilities across the Province. This is a service charge for customers who have not contracted with an electricity retailer for their energy supply.
HST
HST
This amount represents the provincial Harmonized Sales Tax.
Current Charges
Current Charges
This is a total of all current charges. It does not include balance forward from previous bills.
Total Amount Due
Total Amount Due
This is the total amount you owe, including all current charges and any outstanding amount owing from previous bills.
Messages
Messages
This box contains important information, updates and tips that relate to your ERTH Power account.
Consumption History
Consumption History
This chart outlines your consumption history over the past 12 months.
Billed Demand / Power Factor
Billed Demand
The higher of peak kW or 90% of the peak kVa demand. Billed demand is used in the calculation of distribution usage and retail transmission charges.
Power Factor
Your power factor is the ratio of the amount of energy used to do real work (real power or kW) and the amount of total energy used to do that work (kVA). A power factor of less than 90% may negatively impact your bill.
Meter Number(s) and Readings
Meter Number(s) and Readings
This section provides your meter number(s) and meter reading(s) for the current billing period and previous billing period.
Electricity Charge
This is the cost of the electricity supplied to you during the billing period and is the part of the bill that is subject to competition.
The Ontario Energy Board is responsible for regulating electricity prices for residential and small commercial consumers. More information about electricity pricing is available on the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) or Ontario Energy Board (OEB) websites.
Delivery Charge
This is the cost of delivering electricity from generating stations across the province to ERTH Power then to your home or business. This includes the costs to build and maintain the transmission and distribution lines, towers and poles, and operate provincial and local electricity systems.
A portion of these charges are fixed and do not change from month to month. The rest are variable and increase or decrease depending on the amount of electricity you use.
Regulatory Charges
Regulatory charges are costs of administering the wholesale electricity system and maintain the reliability of the provincial grid.
Global Adjustment
The Global Adjustment accounts for differences between the market price of electricity and rates paid to regulated and contracted generators. It also covers the costs of some conservation programs. All electricity consumers have to pay a share of the Global Adjustment. Time-of-use and tiered electricity rates include an estimate of the Global Adjustment. Global Adjustment applies as a separate bill line item for business customers who pay the spot market price and customers who have signed a contract with an energy retailer.
Rate Options
If you’re a residential or small business customer, you can choose to switch between Time-of-Use and Tiered prices. Your bill will reflect which price plan you have chosen. Learn more about Time-of-Use and Tiered Pricing.
Paperless Billing
If you are a new ERTH Power customer, you will automatically receive your bills electronically unless you opt out of paperless billing. If you are currently receiving a paper bill, we strongly encourage you to make the switch to paperless billing for your convenience and the environment. It’s easy and quick. Learn how to switch the Paperless Billing.