REGULATORY

Regulated Price Plan (RPP) – Tiered

Customers who purchase electricity from Lakefront Utilities Inc. who are not on Time-of-Use will be charged Regulated Price Plan. These rates are set by the Ontario Energy Board.

The threshold that defines higher and lower electricity prices for residential Regulated Price Plan consumers is set at 600 kilowatt hours per month during the summer (May 1st to October 31st) and 1,000 kilowatt hours per month during the winter (November 1st to April 30th). This difference recognizes that consumers use more electricity for lighting and indoor activity in the winter and that some Ontarians are reliant on electricity for their heating source. The threshold for non-residential RPP consumers remains at 750 kilowatt hours per month for all seasons.

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) released its Regulated Price Plan roadmap on November 16, 2015. 

If you purchase electricity from an electricity retailer, the prices you pay will be different and will be stated in the contract you signed.

Ultra-Low Overnight Rate (ULO)

With ULO prices, the price depends on when you use electricity.

There are four ULO price periods:

• Ultra-Low Overnight, when demand for electricity is lowest on average.
• Weekend Off-peak, when demand for electricity is generally lower.
• Mid-peak, when demand for electricity is moderate.
• On-peak, when demand for electricity is highest on average.

The ULO price periods are the same in the summer as they are in the winter. 

Ontario Energy Board’s Customer Service Rules for Electricity Utilities

The Ontario Energy Board has had customer service rules in place for electricity utilities since 2011, which cover a wide range of topics. Most of those rules also apply to unit sub-meter providers (USMPs), which are companies that provide metering and billing services for some condos and apartments that have their own individual meters.

The link below details the rules in place regarding:

• Security Deposits
• Equal Payment Plans
• Late Payment Charges
• Overdue / Arrears Payment Agreements
• Disconnection

https://www.oeb.ca/consumer-protection/rules-electricity-utilities

Winter Disconnection Ban

Five things that consumers should know about the winter disconnection ban:
1. Electricity and gas distributors are banned from disconnecting residential customers for non-payment from November 15 to April 30.
2. Electricity and gas distributors have until December 1 to reconnect residential customers who were disconnected for non-payment before November 15.
3. Electricity distributors may not install load control devices (devices that limit how much electricity is supplied to a home) on homes from November 15 to April 30.
4. Electricity and gas distributors can continue to charge late payment fees on past due amounts during the winter disconnection ban period.
5. It’s your responsibility to pay your electricity or natural gas bill on time. If you can’t, the most important thing to do is to stay in contact with your electricity or gas distributor and make payment arrangements or see if you qualify for financial assistance.