Energy basics
Home Energy 101: How to Lower Energy Bills in Ontario
, 6 min read
Know what your energy costs. Then pay less for it.
Independent, Ontario-specific guidance on electricity rates, rebates, heating and cooling, solar and insulation, with calculators that run on current Ontario prices.
Electricity in Ontario right now
Toronto time
9.1¢ per kWh
Off-peak on Time-of-Use
Until 7 a.m., then on-peak at 18.9¢
12 a.m.6 a.m.noon6 p.m.11 p.m.
- On Ultra-Low Overnight
- 37.7¢ on-peak
- On Tiered
- 11.2¢ any time, first 1,000 kWh
Commodity prices set by the Ontario Energy Board, effective November 1, 2026. Holidays are priced like weekends. See all plans and hours
Where the energy in a typical Ontario home goes
Heating dwarfs everything else, so that is where the biggest savings usually are. Lighting and electronics matter less than most people think.
Approximate shares of household energy use. Source: Natural Resources Canada, Comprehensive Energy Use Database.
- Space heatingInsulation, air sealing, thermostat habits and an efficient heating system.~62%
- Water heatingLow-flow fixtures, colder laundry, and heat pump water heaters.~19%
- Appliances and electronicsOld fridges, dryers and standby power add up.~13%
- LightingLEDs use about 80% less than incandescent bulbs.~4%
- CoolingSmall share of the year, but it lands on peak summer prices.~2%
Once you've cut what you use, rooftop solar can cover part of what's left. Estimate it for your roof
Every part of your energy bill
106 guides and updates, organized by the parts of your home that use energy, from the furnace to the roof.
Browse all guides- Energy Basics6kWh vs. kW, where your energy goes, and the first steps every household should take.
- Heating & Cooling26Heat pumps, furnaces, air conditioning, hybrid systems, thermostats and maintenance.
- Insulation & Building Envelope9Attics, basements, air sealing, windows, doors and home energy assessments.
- Rates & Bills14Time-of-Use, Ultra-Low Overnight and Tiered pricing, and how to read hydro and gas bills.
- Rebates & Programs8Home Renovation Savings, income-qualified programs, federal updates and stacking rules.
- Water Heating5Tank, tankless and heat pump water heaters, plus Ontario's rental contracts.
- Appliances & Lighting8ENERGY STAR shopping, standby power and what everyday appliances really cost to run.
- Electric Vehicles4Home charging, Level 2 chargers and making the most of overnight rates.
- Seasonal Savings8Practical checklists for Ontario winters and summers.
- Renters & Condos3Savings you can make without renovating or owning the building.
- Solar & Battery Storage12Rooftop solar, net metering, batteries and how to judge whether your roof is a good fit.
- Consumer Protection3Door-to-door sales, contracts, liens and how to spot a bad deal.
Start with these guides
Rates & bills
How to Reduce Your Hydro Bill in Ontario: A 15-Step Checklist
How to reduce your hydro bill in Ontario: a 15-step checklist covering price plans, base load, big appliances and help programs, with savings estimates.
- Start with free steps: choose the right price plan, shift big loads to off-peak hours and find always-on base load.
- Shifting one dryer load from on-peak to off-peak saves about 29¢ on Time-of-Use; doing it five times a week adds up to roughly $75 a year.
- Old second fridges, space heaters, block heaters and electric water heaters are the most common hidden costs.
November 2, 2026, 6 min read
Seasonal
Winter Energy Savings in Ontario: A Practical Season Checklist
, 5 min read
Heating & cooling
Heat Pumps in Ontario: The Complete Homeowner's Guide
, 7 min read
What Ontario will pay toward your upgrades
Maximum amounts under the Home Renovation Savings Program, delivered by Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas. Most require approval before work starts.
| Cold-climate air-source heat pump | Up to $7,500 |
|---|---|
| Ground-source heat pump | Up to $12,000 |
| Rooftop solar + battery storage | Up to $10,000 |
| Attic insulation (no assessment) | Up to $1,250 |
| Smart thermostat | $100 |
| ENERGY STAR appliances | Up to $200 |
| Insulation (assessment stream) | Up to $7,700 |
Calculators that use Ontario prices
Every tool shows its assumptions, and you can change any number to match your own bills.
- Electricity price plan comparisonTime-of-Use vs. Ultra-Low Overnight vs. Tiered, using your habits.
- Hydro bill estimatorYour full monthly electricity bill, line by line.
- Home energy checkup12 questions, a score, and your top five next steps.
- Heat pump sizing estimateRough heating load and heat pump size for your home.
- Water heater comparisonGas, electric, heat pump, tankless or rental — 15-year cost.
- LED lighting savingsWhat switching your remaining bulbs to LED saves.
- Backup power sizingHow much battery or generator you'd need in an outage.
- Heat pump vs. furnace costAnnual heating costs for gas, oil, propane, electric and heat pumps.
- Rebate finderSix questions to find programs you're likely eligible for.
- Attic insulation savingsSavings and payback from topping up your attic insulation.
- Appliance energy costWhat your fridge, dryer, TV and more cost to run each year.
- EV charging costHome charging cost on each plan, compared with gasoline.
- Thermostat setback savingsHow much lowering the heat at night and while away saves.
- Solar savings estimatorProduction, savings and payback — net metering vs. the rebate.
Rate and program updates
- Holiday Lights Cost in Ontario: What Your Display Adds to the Hydro BillHoliday lights cost in Ontario: an LED display typically adds $2–$20 for the season, while old incandescent strings and inflatables can add $60 or more.
- Best Time to Run the Dishwasher and Laundry in Ontario (TOU and ULO)Best time to run the dishwasher and laundry in Ontario: weekdays after 7 p.m., before 7 a.m. or weekends on TOU; after 11 p.m. on ULO. See the per-load math.
- Average Hydro Bill in Ontario (2026): What a Typical Home PaysThe average hydro bill in Ontario is roughly $100–$130 a month for a 700 kWh home in late 2026. See the math by line item, home type and how to lower yours.
- Getting Your Home Ready for Winter 2026: A Practical ChecklistAn Ontario checklist for winter 2026: heating maintenance, air sealing, thermostat settings for the new rates, and what to check outside before the snow.
- Is Ultra-Low Overnight Worth It? ULO vs TOU Math for Ontario HomesIs Ultra-Low Overnight worth it in Ontario? Usually only if you charge an EV or shift big loads past 11 p.m. and avoid 4–9 p.m. See ULO vs TOU math for 3 homes.
Free winter savings
Use daylight before switching on lights
Opening blinds on sunny winter days provides free light and some free heat. Close them at dusk to hold the warmth in.
Set back the thermostat 2–3 °C at night and when away
For gas-heated homes, a consistent 2–3 °C setback typically saves roughly 5–10% on heating. A programmable or smart thermostat makes it automatic.
Keep heat pump setbacks small
Deep setbacks can trigger electric resistance backup heat during morning recovery, which is much less efficient. Keep setbacks to 1–2 °C or skip them.
Check the furnace filter monthly in winter
A dirty filter restricts airflow, makes the blower work harder and can shorten equipment life. Replace it every one to three months depending on the filter type and household.
Keep vents and cold-air returns clear
Furniture, rugs or drapes over registers block airflow and leave rooms uneven. Clear returns are just as important as supply vents.
Written for Ontario homeowners, not for the people selling to them
Read our editorial standards- Independent
- We're not a government site, utility or manufacturer, and referral partners have no say in what we publish.
- Sourced
- Prices and program terms are checked against the OEB, Save on Energy, Enbridge Gas and Natural Resources Canada.
- Honest about trade-offs
- We use specific numbers and ranges, and we say so when an upgrade isn't worth it.
- Dated
- Rate tables are updated when the OEB changes prices, and every page shows when it was last reviewed.