Electricity Prices for Toronto Residential Customers

Supplier 1 Yr. Fixed 2 Yr. Fixed 3 Yr. Fixed 4 Yr. Fixed 5 Yr. Fixed Features Signup Direct Energy -- -- -- -- 7.99 100 % Green Power Superior Energy -- -- 7.59 -- -- See notes below MyRate Energy 6.81 7.18 7.29 7.34 7.39 See notes below Bullfrog Power 8.9 -- -- -- -- 100 % Green Power -- Canada Energy -- -- 7.49 -- 7.49 Full requirements price, no additional fees -- Just Energy -- -- -- 7.5 7.5 See notes below --

By default, the suppliers are sorted by the number of customers signed on this site. To find utility rates, scroll down to the heading, “Regulated Rates”.

Disclaimer: Energyshop researches prices and provides them on a best efforts basis and is not responsible for discrepancies.

• 5.8¢/kWh (1000 kWh/month winter and 600 kWh/mo summer), and 6.7¢ for the rest.
• These prices are set until May 1st, 2010, but are not fixed prices. If the utility has to pay more for electricity, the deficit will be built into the next price change.
• When you exit the RPP, there are 2 adjustments.
   - You will either receive a credit from, or be asked to pay into a variance account. Currently you will receive a credit. Check here.
   - The Provincial Benefit line will be added to your bill. This may be a rebate or a surcharge, depending on the spot market price. It has been a surcharge for the last year.

Notes on Comparing Electricity Offers

Make sure you read the contracts, in particular the Price clause. There are two types of offers;

• Full requirements, with no additional costs. This includes Canada Energy and Direct Energy.
• Contracts with Pool Balancing Adjustment. Superior, MyRate and Just Energy have this clause. This is to make up any difference in amount or time of use between historical use and use during the contract period. The suppliers group customers together into pools and purchase electricity contracts to match the historical use of that group. If the purchase does not match actual use, an adjustment is made. The maximum adjustment is 1 cent/kWh.

What are "green" and "brown" power?

The term "green power" refers to electricity created from renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, some hydropower, and biomass. "Brown power" refers to power generated using traditional fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

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What Makes Up an Electricity Bill

Deciding on that deregulated portion

Marketer prices only cover the electricity supply cost. The other charges, Transmission, Debt Retirement and System Operation charges, will be charged by your utility at the regulated rate regardless of who you choose as your electricity supplier. The portion of your bill over which you have choice is about 60% of the total charge per kilowatt hour. That 60% goes to whomever you choose to supply your electricity. Remember this split when comparing costs. When a promotional message claims a 10% saving, it is referring to 10% of the 60% over which you have choice.

Comparing with your current electricity bill

It's very difficult for several reasons. If you stay with your utility, you will pay, per kWh, the average spot market price over the first year, based on the Net System Load Shape (NSLS) for your utility. The NSLS is the profile (hourly use through the year) of the total of all electricity users in your utility purchasing from the utility, who do not have an interval meter. The spot market changes every hour. That has to be compared to a fixed rate, fixed term contract.

Comparing and deciding among the various offers

You have 2 fundamental choices; to stay with the utility and pay a variable rate, or go with a deregulated energy marketer and choose between their array of choices. You'll see fixed or variable contracts, terms between 1 and 5 years and possibly other incentives such as air miles or a free month of electricity. This decision depends on your budget, and whether you expect electricity prices to go up or down.

Regulated rates are not fixed rates, nor can they be

In Ontario, the Ontario Energy Board regulates utility rates. Utilities can't offer fixed contracts; only marketers can. If you are a designated consumer, which includes homeowners, the utility will charge you a set rate for a period of time. This is called the Regulated Price Plan RPP (currently for 1 year, but changing to 6 months on May 1/06). As a residential consumer you can opt out of the RPP and pay the monthly spot price instead. Or you can sign a longer term contract with a marketer. The reason you would sign a contract would be to avoid regulated rate changes in the future.

Regulated Price Plan (RPP) Settlement

If you sign an electricity contract in Ontario you will be subject to RPP Settlement. The regulated price plan, which you were on, is mean to smooth out the volatile market rates by setting the price for 6 months. However, if market prices are higher (or lower) than the RPP rate a variance account accumulates. When you leave the RPP for a contract, you will be charge for, or credited with, your portion of that account.

Find out the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions electricity use causes.

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