There is no surprise that the issue of rising hydro rates in Ontario is an ongoing topic of discussion throughout the news, and there have been many articles written about how this increase is drastically affecting everyday living expenses. Are you one of the people affected by rising hydro prices? Have you noticed an increase in your hydro bill? With the cooler season just around the corner, these prices are only going to continue to rise.
So how can you try and make sure you’re budgeting correctly for your bills? Are you doing everything to make sure your hydro bill won’t send you off budget? We give you all the resources to make sure you are in the know of what is going on and what to watch for when it comes to Ontario’s hydro situation.
Low-Income Housing Programs
The Ontario Energy Board or OEB offers a number of special programs for low-income energy consumers in Ontario. There are various requirements to be considered for these programs, but if accepted can make a big impact on your hydro bill. The Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) provides low income consumers with a monthly credit to their electricity bill that automatically gets applied if you qualify. There is also the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) that acts as an emergency financial assistance program and provides a one-time grant towards your electricity or natural gas bill if you are temporarily unable to make ends meet in an emergency situation. For more information on these and other programs, visit the Ontario Energy Board for more details.
Conserving Energy
Using less energy will overall help lower the costs of your hydro bill each month, and there are many appliances or tools that can be used in the household to also help with this. There’s even such a thing as a save on energy coupon! Save on Energy coupons are available in-store to help you save on a wide range of energy-efficient products including LED bulbs, power bars with integrated timers or auto-shutoff and more.
Purchasing energy-efficient products can provide noticeable savings on your hydro bill. For example, the Independent Electricity System Operator gives examples of many ways to save money and energy in the house with a few small changes. By replacing 10 incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LED ones, using an advanced power bar that prevents electronics from drawing power when they are off or not being used, and wrapping an electric water heater with insulation, savings can add up to $11 a month, on top of the $37 in savings from purchasing these items with Save on Energy coupons.
Don’t let your hydro bill knock you off budget, make sure you’re saving where you can and do your research when it comes to rising hydro costs in Ontario.
