Every Household In Ontario Is Getting Cheaper Hydro For The Month Of January

The province is making Ontario hydro bills cheaper, in order to account for more people staying home during the new lockdown.

Starting on January 1, all residences, small businesses, and farms in Ontario will be charged the lowest price for electricity that the province offers — 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, a measurement that tracks the amount of electricity used in an hour. 

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8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour Off-peak cost of electricity in Ontario

The price drop will stay in effect for 28 days. The lower cost is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during that 28-day period.

And the savings will be automatically applied to customers' bills.

"As we enter a province-wide shutdown, our government is ensuring that all households have stable and predictable electricity bills when they need it most," said Greg Rickford, the minister of energy, mines, northern development and Indigenous affairs, in a press release on Tuesday.

According to the release, the province is also offering financial support for people with overdue energy bills through the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP).

"Any residential, small business, or registered charity customer with an overdue electricity or natural gas bill will now be eligible to apply," the statement says.