Winter Energy Savings in Ontario: A Practical Season Checklist

Winter is when Ontario homes use the most energy. Heating typically accounts for well over half of a home's annual energy use, and the colder your region, the more it matters: Toronto sees roughly 3,500–3,600 heating degree days a year, Ottawa about 4,500, and Sudbury or Thunder Bay roughly 5,000–5,700.

This guide covers the steps that make a real difference, from free habits to small weekend projects, plus the safety checks every Ontario home should do before the cold sets in.

Thermostat strategy

The single biggest free lever is your thermostat.

Heating system	Recommended approach	Estimated effect
Gas furnace or boiler	Set back 2–3 °C overnight and when the home is empty	Roughly 5–10% lower heating energy
Electric baseboard	Set back unused rooms; modest whole-home setbacks	Similar percentage savings; higher dollar savings
Heat pump (with electric backup)	Small setbacks of 1–2 °C, or none; avoid large morning recoveries	Avoids expensive auxiliary heat
Hybrid heat pump + gas furnace	Let the system's controls manage changeover; moderate setbacks	Depends on changeover settings

A typical comfort setting is around 20–21 °C when home and awake, and 17–18 °C overnight or when away. Every household is different; older adults, infants and people with some health conditions may need warmer settings.

Tip: With a heat pump, a big setback can backfire. When the system tries to recover several degrees on a cold morning, it may call for electric resistance backup, which uses two to three times as much electricity per unit of heat. A smart thermostat designed for heat pumps can manage recovery gradually. See our smart thermostats guide.

Timing electricity use in winter

Ontario's Regulated Price Plan rates for 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027:

Plan	Winter hours (Nov 1–Apr 30)	Commodity price
TOU on-peak	Weekdays 7–11 a.m. and 5–7 p.m.	18.9¢/kWh
TOU mid-peak	Weekdays 11 a.m.–5 p.m.	14.6¢/kWh
TOU off-peak	Weekdays 7 p.m.–7 a.m.; weekends and holidays all day	9.1¢/kWh
ULO ultra-low overnight	Every day 11 p.m.–7 a.m.	3.7¢/kWh
ULO on-peak	Weekdays 4–9 p.m.	37.7¢/kWh
Tiered	1,000 kWh/month threshold in winter	11.2¢ (Tier 1), 13.2¢ (Tier 2)

The Ontario Electricity Rebate fell to 15.7% on 1 November 2026, so electricity bills may rise slightly this winter even if your usage stays the same.

Practical shifts:

• Run dishwashers, washers and dryers after 7 p.m. on weekdays or on weekends (TOU), or after 11 p.m. (ULO), with someone at home and awake for dryers.
• Charge an EV overnight. See our EV home charging guide.
• For all-electric or heat pump homes, ULO can be risky unless you can avoid heavy use from 4 to 9 p.m. on weekdays. Run the numbers in our price plan calculator.

Quick draft fixes (one weekend)

Fix	Typical cost	Notes
Replace door weatherstripping and sweeps	$30–$100 per door	Biggest drafts are often at entry doors
Seal the basement rim joist	$200–$600 DIY	Often one of the leakiest areas in the house
Weatherstrip and insulate the attic hatch	$30–$80	Stops warm air escaping straight up
Foam gaskets on exterior wall outlets	$10–$20 per pack	Turn off power first
Window film kits	$10–$20 per window	For drafty or single-glazed windows
Fireplace damper check or chimney balloon	$50–$150	Unused fireplaces can leak like an open window

For the full picture see our air sealing guide.

Heating equipment care

• Replace or clean furnace filters every one to three months during heating season. A clogged filter reduces airflow and efficiency.
• Book annual maintenance for gas furnaces and boilers with a TSSA-registered contractor. See our HVAC maintenance checklist.
• Heat pumps: Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and ice. Make sure it sits on a stand high enough to stay above typical snow depth, and never put a cover over it during winter operation. Defrost cycles, with steam rising from the unit, are normal.
• Keep supply registers and cold-air returns clear of furniture and rugs.
• High-efficiency furnace vents: Keep the side-wall intake and exhaust pipes clear of snow and ice. A blocked vent can shut down the furnace.

Hot water and other winter loads

• Set the water heater to about 49–55 °C (120–130 °F).
• Use a timer on engine block heaters; two to three hours before departure is usually enough.
• Use LED holiday lights on a timer.
• Unplug the garage or basement beer fridge in winter if you can. See our ENERGY STAR appliances guide.

Humidity and comfort

Dry winter air feels colder. A relative humidity of about 30–40% is comfortable for most homes without causing window condensation. If you see heavy condensation or frost on the inside of windows, reduce humidity and check that bathroom and kitchen fans are working.

Safety checklist

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Ontario requires CO alarms near sleeping areas in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces or attached garages.
• Keep space heaters at least 1 m from anything that can burn, and never leave them unattended.
• Never use a barbecue, camp stove or generator indoors or in an attached garage.
• Know where your main water shut-off is, and keep pipes in exterior walls and crawlspaces from freezing.
• Keep the gas meter and regulator clear of snow and ice; clear it gently by hand or with a broom, not a shovel.

If bills are a struggle

If winter bills are difficult to manage, see our income-qualified programs guide. The Ontario Electricity Support Program provides a monthly bill credit, and LEAP provides emergency help with arrears. Contact your utility early; Ontario has rules limiting residential electricity disconnections during the winter months, and utilities generally offer payment arrangements. Confirm current rules with the OEB at oeb.ca.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to leave the heat at one temperature all day?

For gas furnaces and electric baseboards, no. Lowering the temperature when you are asleep or away saves energy, because a cooler home loses heat more slowly. Heat pumps are the main exception, where smaller setbacks are better.

Should I close vents in unused rooms?

With a forced-air system, closing many vents can reduce airflow and efficiency and may cause problems with some equipment. Closing one or two is generally fine. With baseboards, turning down individual rooms works well.

Do ceiling fans help in winter?

Running a ceiling fan on low in reverse (clockwise in most cases) can push warm air down from high ceilings. In rooms with standard ceilings, the effect is small.

How do I know if my home needs more insulation?

Uneven temperatures, icicles and ice dams along the eaves, and rapid snowmelt on your roof compared with neighbours' can all suggest heat loss through the attic. See our attic insulation guide.