Verified October 19, 2026. Prices and rebate figures from the Ontario Energy Board’s October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2025 announcements; program details from the Government of Ontario.
The short answer: On November 1, 2026, Ontario’s regulated electricity prices go down for the winter, but the Ontario Electricity Rebate on your hydro bill shrinks from 23.5% to 15.7%. That is a cut of 7.8 percentage points, which makes the rebate about a third smaller. For a typical home using 700 kWh a month, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) says the rebate will be worth about $23 a month, down from about $36 last winter. Lower prices offset part of that, but the OEB says the overall rate of increase for bills will stay consistent with previous years, so most households should not expect a smaller bill.
The changes at a glance
| Item | Winter 2025 to 2026 | From Nov 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Electricity Rebate | 23.5% | 15.7% |
| Rebate on a typical 700 kWh bill | About $36/month | About $23/month |
| Time-of-use off-peak price | 9.8 ¢/kWh | 9.1 ¢/kWh |
| Time-of-use on-peak price | 20.3 ¢/kWh | 18.9 ¢/kWh |
What is happening to the rebate
The Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) is a provincial credit taken off the subtotal of your electricity bill. It applies automatically to households, small businesses, farms and long-term care homes, and it shows as a separate line on the bill. You do not need to apply for it.
The province adjusts the rebate from time to time, and the OEB announces the new rate with each price change. The recent history:
| Effective date | Rebate |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2024 | 13.1% |
| November 1, 2025 | 23.5% |
| November 1, 2026 | 15.7% |
Some reports describe this year’s change as a drop of almost 8%. To be precise, the rate falls by 7.8 percentage points, from 23.5% to 15.7%. Measured against the old rate, the rebate is about 33% smaller, which is why the typical monthly credit falls from about $36 to about $23.
The OEB says the rebate is being reduced because Regulated Price Plan prices are falling year over year, which allows for a smaller rebate. A spokesperson for Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce told CBC News that the average residential customer saves nearly $275 a year through the OER, and that the government will continue targeted relief for low-income households.
New winter electricity prices
The new Regulated Price Plan prices apply to most households that buy electricity through their local utility. If you have signed a contract with an energy retailer, your contract price applies instead.
Time-of-use (winter hours)
| Period | Hours | Nov 1, 2025 | Nov 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-peak | Weekdays 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., all day weekends and holidays | 9.8 ¢ | 9.1 ¢ |
| Mid-peak | Weekdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 15.7 ¢ | 14.6 ¢ |
| On-peak | Weekdays 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | 20.3 ¢ | 18.9 ¢ |
The winter schedule puts the on-peak price in the morning and early evening, when heating and lighting demand is highest.
Ultra-low overnight plan
| Period | Hours | Nov 1, 2025 | Nov 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-low overnight | Every day 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 3.9 ¢ | 3.7 ¢ |
| Weekend off-peak | Weekends and holidays 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. | 9.8 ¢ | 9.1 ¢ |
| Mid-peak | Weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. | 15.7 ¢ | 14.6 ¢ |
| On-peak | Weekdays 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. | 39.1 ¢ | 37.7 ¢ |
Tiered pricing
On tiered pricing, residential customers pay 11.2 ¢/kWh for the first 1,000 kWh each month this winter and 13.2 ¢/kWh above that, down from 12.0 ¢ and 14.2 ¢ last winter. The winter threshold gives homes 400 kWh more each month at the lower price than in summer. For non-residential customers, the threshold is 750 kWh.
What it means for your bill
Two things are moving in opposite directions. The price per kWh falls by roughly 4% to 7% depending on the plan and time of day, which lowers the commodity part of the bill. At the same time, the rebate is applied to the whole bill subtotal, including delivery and regulatory charges that are not falling, and it shrinks by a third.
The OEB has not published a before-and-after total bill. It says the rebate on a typical 700 kWh bill will be about $23 a month, about $13 less than last winter, and that the overall rate of increase for customer bills will remain consistent with previous years. Your exact change depends on your utility’s delivery rates, how much power you use and when you use it.
Households that heat with electricity, run a heat pump or charge an electric vehicle at home use far more than 700 kWh in winter, so the dollar value of the smaller rebate will be larger for them.
Other help with electricity bills
- Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP): monthly credits of $35 to $75 for eligible low-income households, with higher credits of $52 to $113 for homes that use electric heating, use certain medical devices, or are Indigenous or live with an Indigenous family member.
- Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP): emergency help for customers who are behind on electricity or natural gas bills and face disconnection. You apply through an intake agency.
- Winter disconnection ban: utilities cannot disconnect residential customers for non-payment from November 15, 2026 to April 30, 2027.
This article is general information, not financial advice. Check program rules with your utility or the province before you apply.
What homeowners and buyers can do
- Look at your plan. You can switch between time-of-use, tiered and ultra-low overnight pricing through your utility. ULO tends to suit homes that can shift a lot of use, such as EV charging, to after 11 p.m.
- Move flexible loads off-peak. Laundry, dishwashers and EV charging on weekday evenings after 7 p.m. or on weekends pay the off-peak price on time-of-use.
- Check heating costs before you buy. When you buy a home, ask the seller for 12 months of hydro and gas bills. Our guide to home heating systems in Ontario explains how electric baseboard, heat pumps and gas furnaces compare and which rebates are available.
- Budget the full cost of owning. Utilities are one part of monthly costs. Our breakdown of what it costs to own a detached house in Brampton each month already uses the new 15.7% rebate.
If you are planning a move and want to compare running costs between homes, see how we work with buyers. If you are thinking of selling, you can request a free home evaluation.
FAQ
What is the Ontario Electricity Rebate as of November 1, 2026?
15.7% of the bill subtotal, down from 23.5% since November 1, 2025. It applies automatically to households, small businesses, farms and long-term care homes.
How much will the rebate be worth on a typical bill?
The Ontario Energy Board says about $23 a month for a home using 700 kWh, compared with about $36 a month last winter.
Is the rebate dropping by 8%?
It drops by 7.8 percentage points, from 23.5% to 15.7%. Compared with the old rate, the rebate is about a third smaller.
Are electricity prices going down this winter?
Yes. Regulated prices fall on November 1, 2026. Time-of-use off-peak goes from 9.8 to 9.1 cents per kWh, mid-peak from 15.7 to 14.6 cents and on-peak from 20.3 to 18.9 cents. Because the rebate is also smaller, the OEB says overall bill increases will stay consistent with previous years.
Do I need to apply for the Ontario Electricity Rebate?
No. It is applied automatically by your utility and appears as a separate line on your bill. Low-income help through the Ontario Electricity Support Program does require an application.
Sources
- Ontario Energy Board, Ontario Energy Board announces changes to electricity prices for households, small businesses and farms (October 16, 2026)
- Ontario Energy Board, announcement of November 1, 2025 prices and 23.5% rebate (October 17, 2025)
- Government of Ontario, Manage energy costs for your home (OER, OESP, LEAP)
- Entegrus, Ontario Electricity Rebate history (November 2024 rate)
- CBC News via Yahoo News Canada, How will the household electricity rebate reduction, temporary winter pricing change impact Ontarians? (October 18, 2026; ministry statement)
Image: home heating. Local Toronto media library. A general photograph, not a specific property.
Local Toronto, HomeLife Landmark Realty Inc., Brokerage.