COVID-19

As an essential workplace, we're continuing with critical work in order to continue safely powering our city’s homes and businesses – today, tomorrow and in the months ahead.

As a result, you may see our crews continuing to work in your community. During this time, our crews will practise physical distancing whenever possible. However, sometimes the nature of their work will require them to work as a team. All of our crews are trained to perform safety assessments before completing any work in order to help them identify potential hazards, including those related to COVID-19.

Across all of our work, we're committed to protecting both our front-line workers and the communities we serve while we work to safely power our city.

Supporting CaféTO and keeping the public safe

We’re working closely with the City of Toronto to support its CaféTO initiative. For residents who may be dining on city streets or sidewalks this summer, please be mindful that Toronto Hydro has electrical equipment located above and below ground throughout the city. To help ensure your safety, please remember to keep a safe distance from this equipment.

Tips to stay safe around electrical equipment

We've evaluated our upcoming work to determine how we can adapt to the unprecedented circumstances that we're facing. While we've done our best to postpone work where possible, we're moving forward with critical projects that are needed to help maintain the safety and reliability of the grid.

When completing this critical work, we'll be taking all steps possible to minimize inconvenience to customers, including proactively reaching out to customers that are affected.

Safety reminder: If you come across one of our crews working in your community, please practise physical distancing and avoid approaching them directly in order to ensure your safety and theirs.

We know the COVID-19 pandemic is putting economic stress on families and businesses, and we’re committed to helping our customers manage their electricity bills during this challenging time. As a result, we're working with customers who may need greater flexibility on payment options at this time.

Our Customer Care team is here to help with billing concerns and payment options. To discuss your bill and payment needs in more detail, please call us directly at 416-542-8000. We strongly encourage those who are able to continue to pay their bills on time in order to help us maintain service levels during this challenging time.

Paperless billing

If you have concerns regarding handling your paper bill, we encourage customers to sign up for eBills using one of the following options:

• Sign up for eBills — residential customers
• Sign up for eBills — business customers

For residential customers

COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

The Government of Ontario introduced the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) to support residential customers struggling to pay their electricity bills as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEAP provides an on-bill credit to eligible customers in need of financial assistance during this time.

Learn more and apply for CEAP

Additional support for residential customers

We also have additional programs available to help residential customers manage their electricity costs, including the Emergency Energy Fund (EEF), the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) and the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).

Learn more about our financial assistance programs

For business customers

COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB)

The Government of Ontario introduced the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) to support small business and registered charity customers struggling to pay their electricity bills as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEAP-SB provides an on-bill credit to eligible customers in need of financial assistance during this time.

Learn more and apply for CEAP-SB

COVID-19 Business Support Grants program

The Government of Ontario has introduced the COVID-19 Business Support Grants program to support businesses that were required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures (in areas with modified Stage 2 restrictions or categorized as control or lockdown).

Eligible businesses could get rebates for energy costs, which may include up to a maximum of three electricity bills per business location for customers in Toronto. Starting November 16, 2020, businesses can apply for rebates online or by phone through the Government of Ontario.

Learn more and apply for the COVID-19 Business Support Grants program

Additional support for businesses

The federal and provincial governments have announced separate measures to provide additional financial support to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Federal government support
• Provincial government support

We've extended the suspension of electricity disconnections for non-payment until further notice. This extension provides additional time for customers in arrears to contact us and make arrangements for payment on their accounts so they don’t have to worry about being without electricity during this time.

If you’re struggling to pay your bill due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re providing greater payment flexibility on arrears to better address your specific needs. To discuss your bill and payment options in more detail, please call our Customer Care team at 416-542-8000, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

With many of our customers spending more time at home, we recognize that energy consumption habits may change. We have tips and resources that may help customers save energy and money at home during this time.

Residential tips and resources

Fraudsters are trying to take advantage of electricity consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic by threatening to disconnect their power. Please note that we've suspended electricity disconnections for non-payment until further notice.

Note: We never threaten to disconnect power immediately and will never ask a customer to call a 1-800 number to make a payment.

Protect yourself against fraud