Revised Eligibility Criteria for CEAP and CEAP-SB (COVID Energy Assistance Program)

Jan 19, 2021

On January 14, 2021, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) changed the eligibility criterial to make CEAP for residential and small business customers more easily accessible.

Customers are eligible for these program(s) if, as of the date they are applying, they have overdue amounts owing from one or more electricity bill(s) incurred since March 17, 2020, the date of the initial Provincial Declaration of Emergency.

For residential customers, if funding was previously received under this program and a subsequent application is being made based on overdue amounts still owing, the customer may qualify for additional funding up to a total combined maximum credit of $750.

For small business customers, if funding was previously received under this program and a subsequent application is being made based on overdue amounts still owing, the customer may qualify for additional funding up to a total combined maximum credit of $1,500.

Customers, who have already submitted an application but did not qualify, will be re-evaluated by Ottawa River Power using the new eligibility criteria.  There is no need to submit another application.

Application forms are currently being updated to the new eligibility requirements and will be posted shortly.

Changes to Renewable Energy Contract Costs

Jan 11, 2021

Starting January 1, 2021, a portion of renewable energy contract costs will be funded by the Ontario government instead of electricity customers.  This will lower electricity bills for large and mid-sized commercial and industrial consumers who do not participate in the Regulated Price Plan (RPP) or receive the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) by reducing Global Adjustment (GA) costs.

Class A consumers could see savings of about 15 per cent on their bills, while non-RPP Class B consumers could see savings of about 16 per cent on their bills*.  Actual savings will vary depending on customers’ location and electricity consumption.

RPP customers who receive the OER, such as residential, small business and farm consumers, will receive an adjusted rebate percentage starting January 1, 2021, to keep the average residential bill flat compared to November 2020.  For a temporary period of 28 days, starting January 1, 2021, all RPP customers, including those paying both time-of-use and tiered rates, will also benefit from being billed at the off-peak rate for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

*In 2021, Class A and Class B consumers could see savings of about 11% and 12%, respectively, due to the Global Adjustment (GA) deferral repayment in effect for 12 months starting January 2021.