Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER)

Eligible customers can receive a rebate on their electricity bills.

The Government of Ontario introduced the OER under the Ontario Rebate for Electricity Consumers Act, 2016. The OER provides eligible customers with a 21.2% rebate on their electricity bill.

Note: The OER replaced the 8% Provincial Rebate and Fair Hydro Plan. The eligibility requirements for the OER are different from the eligibility requirements for the former 8% Provincial Rebate. Even if you were previously eligible, you’re required to re-declare eligibility under the new rules to continue receiving financial assistance.

To be eligible for the OER, you must meet at least one of the requirements listed below.

  1. Average monthly electricity demand of 50 kilowatts or less.
  2. Annual consumption of 250,000 kilowatt hours or less.
  3. The consumer
    1. carries on a business that is a farming business for the purposes of the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993, and
    2. holds a valid registration number assigned under that Act, or the consumer’s obligation to file a farming business registration form was waived pursuant to an order made under subsection 22(6) of that Act.
  4. The account is in respect of a long-term care home licensed under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, other than an account that is also in respect of a hospital.
  5. The account is solely in respect of a multi-unit complex where all of the following conditions are met:
    1. The multi-unit complex is not in any part any of the following:
      1. A hotel, motel or motor hotel, resort, lodge, tourist camp, cottage or cabin establishment, inn, campground, trailer park, tourist home, bed and breakfast vacation establishment or vacation home.
      2. Living accommodation occupied by a person for penal or correctional purposes.
      3. A hospital, as defined in the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010.
      4. A premises that is subject to the Ministry of Correctional Services Act or the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017.
      5. Short-term living accommodation provided as emergency shelter.
      6. Living accommodation provided by an educational institution to its students or staff where, the living accommodation is provided primarily to persons under the age of majority, or all major questions related to the living accommodation are decided after consultation with a council or association representing the residents, and the living accommodation is not intended for year-round occupancy by full-time students or staff and members of their households.
      7. A university, college of applied arts and technology or other entity that provides post-secondary education.
      8. A premises that is identified by a NAICS code commencing with the digits 21, 22, 23, 31, 32 or 33.
    2. The consumer has a demand for electricity of greater than 50 kilowatts and the consumer annually uses more than 250,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.
    3. The multi-unit complex contains at least two qualifying units.[1]
    4. At least 50% of the units[2] in the multi-unit complex are qualifying units.
    5. The consumer has met notice requirements by completing and submitting the OER Notice Form to Toronto Hydro.

[1] “Qualifying unit” means a unit that (a) consists of a self-contained room or set of rooms; (b) contains kitchen and bathroom facilities that are for the sole use of the unit; and (c) is occupied and used as a residence.

[2] “Unit” means (a) a unit as defined in the Condominium Act, 1998; (b) a residential unit or a rental unit, as those terms are defined in subsection 2(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006; (c) a member unit or a non-member unit, as those terms are defined in the Co-operative Corporations Act; or (d) premises that is demised premises for the purposes of the Commercial Tenancies Act.

Who should apply

If you meet the eligibility criteria listed above, you should submit an OER Notice Form.

However, if your electricity demand is 50 kilowatts or less or if your annual consumption is less than 250,000 kilowatt hours, you don’t have to complete the OER Notice Form. You’ll be automatically enrolled in the OER.

To apply for the OER, complete the OER Notice Form (PDF, 85 KB) and submit it according to the instructions on the form.

Frequently asked questions

The OER replaced the 8% Provincial Rebate and Fair Hydro Plan. However, the OER has different eligibility requirements than the former 8% Provincial Rebate. This means that even if you were previously eligible, you may be required to re-declare eligibility to continue receiving financial assistance.

You need to complete a separate OER Notice Form for each account.

We may use all information submitted in this process in support of our obligations under the Electricity Act, 1998 and the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, applicable Ontario Energy Board Codes and Rules, associated policies, standards and procedures and our electricity distribution licence.

If you have any questions about the information collected on this form, the ways in which your personal information may be used or would like further information, please read our Privacy Policy. You can call us at 416-542-8000 to request a copy of this policy.

For further assistance, please visit our contact us page to reach our Customer Care team online or by phone.