Did You Sign a Contract Years Ago ?

Electricity deregulation in Ontario on May 1, 2002 resulted in hundreds of door-to-door marketers knocking on doors.

If you signed a contract, it was likely for 5 years, and you have received a renewal notice some time in 2007 or 2008.

If you did nothing, you have probably been automatically renewed. If that happened, be advised that
- you can cancel within 35 days of when you receive your first bill with the new rate. - if it has been longer than that, you will have to stay with the contract for one year. - the marketer could ONLY auto renew for a 1 year period. It's worth checking that with the supplier. - at the end of the 1 year auto renewal, you should receive another notice of renewal. You can

If you have re-signed for a longer term, you can cancel withing 14 days of doing so.

You should check prices before you sign anything new. Prices between suppliers can vary by hundreds of dollars a year.

The company sending you the renewal notice may not be the one you signed with so you may not recognize the name. Several companies sold their contracts to others since 2002.

Have a look at the Ontario Energy Board's summary of the rules.