Time-of-Use (TOU) Pricing
Residential and small business customers who choose to be billed under the Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing structure pay different rates for electricity consumed during different times of the day.
There are three TOU periods:
- on-peak
- mid-peak
- off-peak
Prices are highest during on-peak, lower during mid-peak, and lowest during off-peak. TOU prices encourage households and small businesses to use electricity during lower-cost time periods (ex. running your dishwasher and doing laundry at night).
TOU prices are set to be cheapest when demand is lower: during the evenings, on weekends, and on holidays.
TOU price periods are different in the summer than they are in the winter.
Summer TOU Rates
Effective May 1 through October 31.
During the summer, people tend to use electricity more during the hottest part of the day, when air conditioners are running on high.
- Off-Peak (Weekdays 7pm – 7am, all day weekends and holidays) – 7.4¢/kWh
- Mid-Peak (Weekdays 7am – 11am and 5pm – 7pm) – 10.2¢/kWh
- On-Peak (Weekdays 11am – 5pm) – 15.1¢/kWh
Winter TOU Rates
Effective November 1 through April 30.
- Off-Peak (7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and all day weekends and holidays)
- Mid-Peak (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- On-Peak (7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Weekends and Holidays
Off-peak rates are in effect all day on weekends and recognized holidays. If a holiday falls on a weekend, the following weekday will have off-peak prices in effect all day.
2023 Holidays
Below are the holidays that off-peak prices are in effect.
| Recognized Holiday | Date of Off-Peak Pricing |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Monday, January 2 |
| Family Day | Monday, February 20 |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 7 |
| Victoria Day | Monday, May 22 |
| Canada Day | Monday, July 3 |
| Civic Holiday | Monday, August 7 |
| Labour Day | Monday, September 4 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Monday, October 9 |
| Christmas Day | Monday, December 25 |
| Boxing Day | Tuesday, December 26 |
How are TOU Rates Set?
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) determines the tiered rates at the same time as it sets the time-of-use (TOU) rates.
The OEB sets TOU and tiered prices based on its forecast of the cost to supply households and small businesses over the next 12 months. The next rate adjustment is scheduled to take place on November 1, 2023.
If you choose TOU pricing, your electricity bill will include the costs for the electricity that you use during the TOU periods and other costs of delivering electricity.
The Choice Is Yours
Considering a switch? Learn more about Tiered and Time-of-Use pricing to determine which one best suits your consumption behavior. Visit the Ontario Energy Board’s website.
How to change your rate plan
There are a few different ways to make your choice.
- Online
Submit your request online through the Customer Choice Selection Form. - Email or Mail
If you are unable to access MyAccount, you can complete the Selection Form and email it to info@erthpower.com or mail it to:ERTH Power
P.O. Box 157143 Bell Street
Ingersoll, Ontario
N5C 3K5 - Telephone
Our Customer Care team is happy to help you complete the rate selection form over the phone. Contact our Customer Care team as soon as possible at 1-877-850-3128, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Please note that you will need to have a recent electricity bill on hand when filling out the form, as you will need your account number. For help to find the account number and other parts of the electricity bill, see sample TOU and Tiered bills on the OEB website.