Winter electricity prices and time-of-use hours take effect November 1
The Ontario Energy Board's new Regulated Price Plan prices start November 1, with winter time-of-use hours that put the on-peak price in the morning and early evening. The residential tier threshold rises to 1,000 kWh a month for the winter.
The details
What changes
The Ontario Energy Board sets electricity prices under its Regulated Price Plan once a year, on November 1, for households, small businesses and farms that buy electricity from their utility. Its October 16 announcement sets new prices from November 1, 2026, and the winter time-of-use hours and the higher winter tier threshold for residential customers take effect the same day. Customers can choose time-of-use, tiered or ultra-low overnight pricing.
- Weekdays 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and all day on weekends and holidays
- Weekdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Weekdays 7 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.
- Every day, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Weekends and holidays, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 to 11 p.m.
- Weekdays 4 to 9 p.m.
- First 1,000 kWh a month for residential customers in winter (750 kWh for non-residential)
- Electricity used above those thresholds
Rebate and winter protections
The Ontario government's Ontario Electricity Rebate changes to 15.7 per cent on November 1. The OEB says prices under its plan are decreasing year over year, which allows a smaller rebate, and that the overall rate of increase for customer bills will remain consistent with previous years. For a typical residential customer using 700 kWh a month, it says, the rebate lowers the bill by about $23 a month. Under the OEB's winter disconnection ban, utilities cannot disconnect residential customers for non-payment from November 15, 2026 to April 30, 2027.
Sources
Ontario Energy Board
Electricity rates