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

Email

You can email your completed application form (PDF, 1.9 MB) to ceap@torontohydro.com (please include "CEAP-SB" in the email subject line).

Downloading the CEAP-SB form: To download the form, right-click the application form link above and select "Save link as" to save the file to your computer.

Phone

If you don't have access to a computer, call our Customer Care team at 416-542-8000, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A representative will help complete and submit the application on your behalf.

Mail

You can print, complete and mail your application form (PDF, 1.9 MB) to the following address:

Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited
500 Commissioners Street
Toronto, ON M4M 3N7
Attention: CEAP-SB

Downloading the CEAP-SB form: To download the form, right-click the application form link above and select "Save link as" to save the file to your computer.

Note: We've been notified by Canada Post that mail delivery service may be delayed due to COVID-19. If you choose to mail your application to us, we cannot guarantee that there will be funding remaining by the date we receive your application.

The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) is a time-limited program that provides a one-time, on-bill credit to small business and registered charity electricity customers that have experienced financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CEAP-SB funding is limited and applications will be processed in the order they're received (first come, first served). Once funds have been depleted, new applications will no longer be accepted.

You may be eligible for CEAP-SB if you meet the following criteria:

1. As of the date of your application, your small business or registered charity has an active account with an electricity distributor or a unit sub-meter provider. You’ll be required to provide your registered business number or charitable registration number.
2. Your small business or registered charity has a Toronto Hydro account and is classified as a general service customer using < 50 kW.
3. Your small business or registered charity did not have any overdue amounts on its electricity bill as of March 17, 2020 (the date the Provincial Emergency was declared), or made at least partial payment towards amounts owing from bills prior to March 17, 2020 (including accounts subject to an arrears payment agreement).
4. As of the date of your application, your small business or registered charity has overdue amounts owing from at least two electricity bills since March 17, 2020.
5. Your small business or registered charity was required to close its premises to members of the public for regular operations for at least 15 days as a result of a government order or an inability to adapt your business or charity to comply with public health recommendations.

Note: You may be eligible for an enhanced credit if the premises for your small business or registered charity is mainly heated by electricity.

The fastest and easiest way to apply for CEAP-SB is online. Submitting your application online will ensure it’s processed as quickly as possible.

Note: Please ensure you provide correct account information. It’s best to have your Toronto Hydro bill handy when you’re filling out your application.

Apply online

If you don't have access to a computer, you can also apply using one of the following options:

• Call our Customer Care team at 416-542-8000, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A representative will help complete and submit the application on your behalf
• Email your completed application form (PDF, 1.9 MB) to ceap@torontohydro.com (please include "CEAP-SB" in the email subject line)
• Print, complete and mail your application form (PDF, 1.9 MB) to the following address:

  Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited
  500 Commissioners Street
  Toronto, ON M4M 3N7
  Attention: CEAP-SB

Downloading the CEAP-SB form: To download the form, right-click the application form link above and select "Save link as" to save the file to your computer.

Note: Please remember that CEAP-SB funding is limited and applications will be processed in the order they’re received (first come, first served). We've been notified by Canada Post that mail delivery service may be delayed because of COVID-19. If you choose the option of mailing your application, we cannot guarantee that there will be funding remaining once we receive your application.

For eligiblity purposes, "closed" is considered to mean that your small business or registered charity was unable to maintain regular operations as a result of a government order or health recommendations that required you to either fully close operations, limit access to your premises, or limit the services provided or available to the public.

The following are examples of what closures might include (this list is not exhaustive, and there may be other examples):

• Personal services (e.g. hair salon, chiropractor) that had to fully close
• A restaurant or coffee shop that had to close regular dining operations and provided only takeaway or delivery service
• A small fashion retailer or pet store whose premises was closed to the public but was able to provide contactless curbside pick-up for customers
• A non-publicly funded registered charity whose premises was closed to the public but was able to adapt to provide limited services remotely

You cannot receive CEAP-SB funding for multiple storefronts or locations. You can only apply for a CEAP-SB credit for one location for the same small business or registered charity anywhere in Ontario. If you have natural gas service, you may also be able to apply separately for natural gas CEAP-SB support through your natural gas utility.

If you’re eligible, CEAP-SB provides a partial credit against the full amount of your overdue balance. The amount you receive would be:

• A maximum of $425; or
• A maximum of $850 (if your premises is primarily electrically-heated)

Note: The value of your credit cannot exceed your amount owing.

Once your information is verified and you’ve been notified that you’re eligible, the on-bill credit will appear on your next bill or the following one, depending on your billing cycle.

CEAP-SB funding is limited and applications will be processed in the order they’re received (first come, first served). Once funds have been depleted, new applications will no longer be accepted.

You’ll receive a confirmation that your application has been received and is being processed.

Within 10 business days of receiving your application, we’ll notify you whether you’ve been approved. Depending on how you applied, we’ll notify you through email, mail or the phone number you provided on your application.

CEAP-SB is funded by the Government of Ontario. The government has provided $8 million to support small business customers who are struggling to pay their electricity bills as a result of COVID-19. These funds have been proportionally allocated to unit sub-meter providers, gas distributors and electricity distributors, such as Toronto Hydro, who have made this program available to customers.

The government has also provided $9 million through the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) to support residential customers who are struggling to pay their electricity bills as a result of COVID-19. Applications for CEAP are currently being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

When the funds have been depleted, we’ll update our website to let customers know that the program has closed. We’ll also update our company’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system for customers who choose to call us.

You’re responsible for assessing your eligibility for CEAP-SB and providing truthful and accurate account information to us. The Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines may contact you for further information as part of their audit.

Because CEAP-SB is funded by the Government of Ontario, it may be necessary for us to share your information with the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines to determine if you’re eligible for and to administer CEAP-SB.

If the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines requests any of the personal information contained in your application form to verify your eligibility or for audit purposes for CEAP-SB, we'll be required to provide it to them. The Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines may also contact you for further information as part of its audit. You’re encouraged to retain any documentation that demonstrates you meet the eligibility for CEAP-SB.

With the exception of specific requests from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Finance, the Ontario Energy Board, and/or the Independent Electricity System Operator, we will not share your information with any other parties.