CONSUMER ALERT: Annual winter disconnection ban has ended

Customers struggling with their energy bills should contact their distributor about support programs.  

TORONTO, May 1, 2023 /CNW/ - Today marks the end of the winter disconnection ban for residential customers. Customers who are in arrears may have already received a disconnection notice from their distributor in April and should know that there are rules and programs in place to protect them.

Under the Ontario Energy Board's winter disconnection ban, regulated electricity and natural gas distributors cannot disconnect residential customers for non-payment between November 15 and April 30.

Disconnection Rules:

Customers who receive a disconnection notice should contact their natural gas or electricity distributor as soon as possible. The best way for these customers to avoid disconnection is to stay in contact with their distributor. Customers who can't pay the entire amount owed can ask their distributor about setting up a payment plan to pay their bill over a longer period.

Customers should be aware that distributors must follow a step-by-step process before disconnecting a residential or small business customer for non-payment, including minimum notice periods.

If service is disconnected, the distributor is allowed to charge a reconnection fee to turn your service back on but must offer reasonable payment arrangements to customers unable to pay this fee. Eligible low-income customers do not have to pay the reconnection fee.

Once the bill has been paid in full, or a customer has entered into a payment agreement, the customer should generally expect the distributor to reconnect their service within two business days.

Bill Support Programs:

In Ontario, programs are available to help low-income energy consumers. Certain eligibility criteria apply. The programs include: 

• The Ontario Electricity Support Program – Reduces electricity bills by providing eligible low-income customers with an on-bill credit each month, generally ranging from $35 to $75 depending on household income and size.
• The Low-income Energy Assistance Program, Emergency Financial Assistance  (LEAP) –Eligible low-income customers can get up to $500 for their electricity bills ($600 if the home is electrically heated) and up to $500 for their natural gas bills. 
• Temporary changes to the screening guidelines for LEAP, put in place in 2021 to help support Ontarians through the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue to provide flexibility through 2023. This means:
• your energy bill must be in arrears, but you do not need to be in threat of disconnection or have been disconnected, and
• you can apply more than once per year, provided that the total amount received by your household does not exceed the maximum annual grant amounts.
• Customer Service Rules for Low-income Consumers – Electricity distributors, unit sub-meter providers and rate-regulated natural gas distributors follow customer service rules specific to eligible low-income customers. These include waiving security deposits and allowing longer payment times under arrears payment plans.

Customers can find out more about the specifics of each program, including eligibility criteria, by visiting oeb.ca/billhelp.

The Save on Energy Energy Affordability Program provides support to income-eligible electricity consumers by helping them to better manage their monthly electricity costs and to increase their home comfort through energy efficiency measures.

Beware of Scams:

Consumers should always beware of anyone claiming to represent their distributor and threatening immediate disconnection. This could be a scam. Regulated electricity and natural gas distributors must provide their residential and small business customers with notice before disconnecting them, and they do not accept payment through gift cards or bitcoin. Customers should always know who they are dealing with. Be wary of emails or texts claiming to be from your distributor. Customers are urged to reach out to their distributor directly, using the contact information on their distributor bill.

Quote

"We know that it can be difficult to keep up with their energy bills, especially in this economy," says Harneet Panesar, Ontario Energy Board Chief Operating Officer. "But the OEB has rules and programs in place to protect energy consumers, and the single most important thing a customer in arrears should do to avoid disconnection is reach out to their distributor to negotiate a payment plan and find out about bill payment support programs."

Resources:

• Electricity customers who want to learn more about the OEB's customer service rules, including details of the disconnection process, should go here.
• Natural gas customers who want to learn more about the OEB's customer service rules, including details of the disconnection process, should go here.
• For bill support programs visit oeb.ca/billhelp.
• Customers who want to learn more about how to protect themselves against energy scams should visit oeb.ca/scams.
• Power is Personal.  Customers who want to learn more about their electricity price plan options and use our online bill calculator can visit oeb.ca/choice.

About the Ontario Energy Board

The OEB is the independent regulator of Ontario's electricity and natural gas sectors. It protects the interests of consumers and supports the collective advancement of the people of Ontario. Its goal is to deliver public value through prudent regulation and independent adjudicative decision-making which contributes to Ontario's economic, social and environmental development.

Ce document est aussi disponible en français.

Contact Us

For more information, please visit the OEB website at oeb.ca or contact us directly.

SOURCE Ontario Energy Board

Media Inquiries: Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]