June 1st, 2020
Updated Electricity Rates for Ontario Residents
The Ontario government has introduced a new “COVID-19 Recovery Rate” for electricity consumers on time-of-use pricing. The new fixed rate of 12.8 cents per kilowatt hour will apply at all times of the day and will be in place from June 1st to October 31st, 2020.
The fixed price is higher than the winter off-peak price, which was 10.1 per kilowatt hour. However, it is lower than the mid-peak rate of 14.4 ¢/kWh and the high-peak rate of 20.8 ¢/kWh.
The COVID-19 Recovery Rate is based on the average cost of electricity set by the Ontario Energy Board. This new fixed rate will give consumers greater flexibility to use electricity when it is needed without paying the higher peak pricing.
The new price does not apply to RPP customers that pay tiered prices. The prices tiered customers have been paying since November 1, 2019 remain in effect. Those prices are 11.9 ¢/kWh for the lower tier price and 13.9 ¢/kWh for the higher tier price. The OEB is keeping the winter tier threshold of 1,000 kWh in place in the summer period for residential customers, giving them an additional 400 kWh per month at the lower price.
For more information about the new rates, please visit www.oeb.ca
If you are concerned about being able to pay your bill, we are here to help you. Please contact Customer Service to see what options are available to you. You can do so through the following methods:
- Chat with a Customer Service Representative online between 8:00am and 4:00pm EDT. We have added more live chat users to help improve our response time during this period.
- Email [email protected]
- Our phone lines are open. Call 1.866.836.3837 x1 to speak with a Customer Service Representative between 8:00am and 4:00pm EDT.
May 6th, 2020
Off-peak electricity pricing extended to May 31, 2020
Since March 24, 2020, residential and small business customers and farms on time-of-use (TOU) pricing have been paying 10.1 ¢/kWh no matter what time of day the electricity is consumed. On May 6, 2020, the Government extended that rate relief, keeping TOU pricing at 10.1 ¢/kWh until May 31, 2020.
The 10.1 ¢/kWh pricing applies automatically – no customer action is required. Some customers may receive a bill before Priority is able to implement the pricing change, in which case they will receive a credit on the following bill to reflect the adjustment in rate charges.
The pricing change does not apply to RPP customers that pay tiered prices. Under tiered pricing, the price does not change depending on the time when the customer uses electricity. The price only changes to a higher rate when a customer uses more than 1,000 kWh per month.
Priority is also extending our internal ban throughout Canada on electricity disconnections and all utility arrears fees within Canada and the USA until May 31st, 2020. The disconnection ban put into place by the Ontario Energy Board does not apply to utility sub-metering providers but we understand that this is a tough situation for many people and our hope is that our internal ban will assist anyone who is struggling at this time.
If you are concerned about being able to pay your bill, we are here to help you. Please contact Customer Service and to see what options are available to you. You can do so through the following methods:
- Chat with a Customer Service Representative online between 8:00am and 4:00pm EDT. We have added more live chat users to help improve our response time during this period.
- Email [email protected]
- Our phone lines are open. Call 1.866.836.3837 x1 to speak with a Customer Service Representative between 8:00am and 4:00pm EDT.
How Priority is Assisting Customers During The Covid-19 Pandemic
As the information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we want you to know that we are here to support you.
Arrears Management: Priority has suspended all arrears management charges for all customers until May 1 – July 1, 2020.
Disconnections: Priority is committing to not leaving any of our customers without power during this difficult time. We are cancelling all disconnections until May 1 – July 1, 2020.
Payment Plans: Priority can offer a payment plan for those who have an account that is in arrears by more than one billing cycle. Please contact one of our Customer Service Representatives to learn more about our payment plan options.
For more information about government programs that may be available to you, please visit the links below:
- Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
- Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
- Current Government Relief Options (CERB)
If you are concerned about being able to pay your bill, we want you to know we are here to help you. Please contact Customer Service and to see what options are available to you. You can do so through the following methods:
- Chat with a Customer Service Representative online between 8:00am and 4:00pm EDT. We have added more live chat users to help improve our response time during this period.
- Email [email protected]
- Our phone lines are open. Call 1.866.836.3837 x1 to speak with a Customer Service Representative between 8:00am and 5:00pm EDT.