Ontario Electricity Price Plans Explained: TOU, ULO and Tiered
Full Ontario electricity rate tables effective 1 November 2026 for Time-of-Use, Ultra-Low Overnight and Tiered plans, with worked examples on choosing a plan.
Key takeaways
- From 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, TOU prices are 9.1¢ off-peak, 14.6¢ mid-peak and 18.9¢ on-peak per kWh.
- Ultra-Low Overnight charges 3.7¢ from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day but 37.7¢ on weekdays from 4 to 9 p.m.
- Tiered pricing is 11.2¢ up to the threshold (1,000 kWh/month in winter, 600 in summer) and 13.2¢ above it.
- Homes that can't shift use often do best on Tiered; homes with EVs or flexible overnight loads often do best on ULO.
- These are commodity prices only; delivery, regulatory charges, HST and the 15.7% Ontario Electricity Rebate also affect your bill.
Most Ontario homes buy electricity under the Regulated Price Plan (RPP), with prices set by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). Within the RPP you can choose between three price plans: Time-of-Use (TOU), Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) and Tiered. Picking the right one costs nothing and can save some households $100 or more a year.
This guide lists the full rates in effect from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, explains how each plan works and walks through examples. Rates are set by the OEB; confirm current figures at oeb.ca (opens in a new tab) or on our electricity rates page.
Time-of-Use (TOU)
TOU is the default plan for most residential customers. Prices change by time of day, and the schedule changes with the season.
| TOU period | Price (¢/kWh) |
|---|---|
| Off-peak | 9.1 |
| Mid-peak | 14.6 |
| On-peak | 18.9 |
TOU winter schedule (1 November – 30 April)
| Time | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. | Off-peak (9.1¢) | Off-peak |
| 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. | On-peak (18.9¢) | Off-peak |
| 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Mid-peak (14.6¢) | Off-peak |
| 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. | On-peak (18.9¢) | Off-peak |
TOU summer schedule (1 May – 31 October)
| Time | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. | Off-peak (9.1¢) | Off-peak |
| 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Mid-peak (14.6¢) | Off-peak |
| 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | On-peak (18.9¢) | Off-peak |
| 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Mid-peak (14.6¢) | Off-peak |
Weekends and statutory holidays are off-peak all day, year-round. Under TOU, about two-thirds of the hours in a year are off-peak.
Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO)
ULO offers a very low overnight price in exchange for a very high price in the weekday late afternoon and evening. Most local distribution companies have offered it since 2023; check that yours does.
| ULO period | When | Price (¢/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra-low overnight | 11 p.m. – 7 a.m., every day | 3.7 |
| Weekend off-peak | 7 a.m. – 11 p.m., weekends and holidays | 9.1 |
| Mid-peak | Weekdays 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. | 14.6 |
| On-peak | Weekdays 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. | 37.7 |
The ULO schedule is the same in winter and summer. Its on-peak price is about twice TOU's on-peak, and it lasts five hours, covering the typical after-work cooking, laundry and lighting window.
Caution: ULO rewards homes that move use overnight, but it can penalize homes that can't. Cooking dinner, running a dryer and heating with electric baseboards between 4 and 9 p.m. on weekdays all cost 37.7¢/kWh.
Tiered
Tiered pricing ignores time of day. You pay a lower price up to a monthly threshold and a higher price above it.
| Tier | Price (¢/kWh) | Residential threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 11.2 | First 1,000 kWh/month in winter (1 Nov – 30 Apr); first 600 kWh/month in summer |
| Tier 2 | 13.2 | Use above the threshold |
Tiered can suit households that are home all day, work from home or have little ability to shift usage.
Worked examples: which plan costs least?
The examples below compare commodity costs only for one winter month. We estimated how each household's use falls across the price periods; your own pattern will differ.
Household 1: typical home, no shifting. 750 kWh/month. On TOU, roughly 64% off-peak, 18% mid-peak, 18% on-peak. On ULO, roughly 30% overnight, 20% weekend daytime, 37% mid-peak, 13% on-peak.
Household 2: same home plus an EV. 1,200 kWh/month, with 450 kWh of EV charging scheduled after 11 p.m.
Household 3: active shifter. 750 kWh/month, with laundry, dishwasher and water heating moved overnight. On ULO, roughly 40% overnight, 20% weekend daytime, 32% mid-peak, 8% on-peak.
| Household | TOU | ULO | Tiered (winter) | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: Typical, 750 kWh | $88.91 | $99.25 | $84.00 | Tiered |
| 2: With EV, 1,200 kWh | $129.86 | $115.90 | $138.40 | ULO |
| 3: Active shifter, 750 kWh | $88.91 | $82.41 | $84.00 | ULO |
How we calculated Household 2. TOU: the base 750 kWh costs $88.91, plus 450 kWh EV × 9.1¢ = $40.95. ULO: the base 750 kWh costs $99.25, plus 450 kWh × 3.7¢ = $16.65. Tiered: 1,000 kWh × 11.2¢ + 200 kWh × 13.2¢.
In summer, the Tiered threshold drops to 600 kWh, so Household 1 would pay 600 × 11.2¢ + 150 × 13.2¢ = $87.00 on Tiered, narrowing its advantage. Run your own numbers with our electricity price plan calculator, using the usage data from your LDC's online portal.
Rules of thumb
- No EV, no flexibility, average use: Tiered or TOU; the difference is often small.
- EV, heat pump water heater on a timer, or battery storage: ULO is often cheapest. See our guides to EV home charging and home batteries.
- Electric heat (baseboards, older electric furnace): be cautious with ULO, because heating demand peaks on winter evenings.
- Home all day, high winter use above 1,000 kWh: compare TOU and Tiered carefully.
What else is on your bill
The commodity price is only part of your bill. You also pay:
- Delivery charges, which vary by LDC and by urban or rural density. Hydro One rural customers typically pay more than urban customers.
- Regulatory charges, which cover the cost of running the wholesale market and related programs.
- HST at 13%.
- The Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER), a credit of 15.7% effective 1 November 2026, down from 23.5%. The lower OER means many bills rise this winter even before any change in usage.
All-in, a typical Toronto-area home on TOU pays roughly 15–19¢/kWh before the OER (estimate). Our guide to understanding your hydro bill explains each line.
Note: If you have signed a contract with an electricity retailer, you are not paying RPP prices and these plans do not apply to you. Retail contracts often cost more over time; read the terms carefully.
Help with bills
Lower-income households may qualify for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP), a monthly on-bill credit, and the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) for emergency help. Details are on oeb.ca (opens in a new tab).
How to switch plans
- Check 12 months of usage by price period in your LDC's online account.
- Compare plans with a calculator or your LDC's comparison tool.
- Contact your LDC (online form or phone) to request the change.
- The switch typically takes effect within one to two billing cycles.
You can usually switch back if the new plan doesn't work out, though LDCs may limit how often you can change.
Frequently asked questions
When do these prices change next?
The OEB typically reviews RPP prices once a year. The prices in this guide apply from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, unless the OEB announces a change.
Are weekends always off-peak?
Yes on TOU, where weekends and statutory holidays are off-peak (9.1¢) all day. On ULO, weekends and holidays are 9.1¢ from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 3.7¢ overnight; the 37.7¢ on-peak applies on weekdays only.
Can I be on ULO if I have solar with net metering?
Ask your LDC. Rules for combining net metering with ULO can vary, and how export credits are valued depends on your plan.
Does switching plans change my delivery charges?
No. Price plans affect only the electricity commodity charge. Delivery and regulatory charges are set separately.
About this page. Written and reviewed by the Energy Efficiency Ontario editorial team using official sources including the Ontario Energy Board, Save on Energy (IESO), Enbridge Gas and Natural Resources Canada. Figures are estimates unless attributed. Program terms change — confirm with the administrator before you buy. Our editorial standards · Report an error
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