Province announces new COVID-19 Recovery Rate, COVID Energy Assistance Programs and New Customer Choice Initiative

OSHAWA – Ontario announces new energy assistance available for residential and small commercial customers. The province previously announced a disconnection ban in place for residential and small commercial customers.

Announced this past weekend, consumption used as of June 1, 2020, the new COVID-19 Recovery Rate of 12.8¢/kWh is in effect, 24 hours a day until October 31, 2020. No action by the customer is required for this rate to take effect.

The province has also announced that as of July residential and small commercial can apply for the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) to receive a one-time payment assistance for customers struggling to pay their bill. Oshawa Power will share more information about this upcoming program when it becomes available.

Starting November 1, 2020 Ontario hydro users will have the choice between paying the regulated Time-Of-Use rates or pay the regulated Tiered Pricing Plan. As more information is released about this new option Oshawa Power will share.

See the Province’s announcement.

Please be assured that Oshawa Power is ready to support their customers through these new changes. As more information becomes available Oshawa Power will share on their website and social media channels. You can stay current by visiting our COVID-19 information page, visiting our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions page  or you can contact our Customer Service Department at 905-723-4623 or contact us

What is the impact to my bill?

The Government of Ontario introduced a fixed electricity price, known as the COVID-19 Recovery Rate, of 12.8 cents per kWh, which will be automatically applied to all time-of-use customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This fixed electricity price will be in place from June 1 – October 31, 2020.

With this, Oshawa Time of Use (TOU) consumers will not be subject to TOU rates and will be paying the rate of 12.8¢ per kWh during this period. Customers will receive crossover bills showing a consumption used prior to June 1, 2020 and after June 1, 2020. As a result, customer will see six line items representing their monthly consumption. See Sample below: