Financial assistance

What is LEAP?

LEAP is a program delivered by the Ontario Energy Board. It provides a once-per-calendar-year emergency grant to help low-income customers catch up on overdue electricity bills.

How much you could receive:

If you qualify for LEAP, you could receive:

• Up to $650 in financial support
• Up to $780 in financial support if your home is electrically heated

Who qualifies?

You may qualify for LEAP if you:

• Are a Hydro Ottawa residential customer
• Are behind on your electricity bill or at risk of disconnection
• Fall within the household income thresholds listed on this page.

How to apply

• Online: Use the LEAP agency's self-serve portal self-serve portal at uwsimcoemuskoka.ca/leap.
• Phone: Call 1 (855) 487-5327 to start your application, then submit your documents by email or mail.
• In person: Call 1 (855) 487-5327 to complete a phone screening and book an appointment.

What you need to apply:

• The most recent Hydro Ottawa bill for your residence
• Disconnection notice (if applicable)
• One piece of valid ID for all household members, two pieces of ID for the applicant
• Proof of income (e.g., pay stubs, tax return) for all adult members of your household
• Rental agreement or mortgage statement
  • If you don’t have a rental receipt or mortgage document, LEAP intake agencies can also accept:
    • A letter from a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP)
    • An attestation from a legal clinic
    • A letter from your landlord
• Recent bank statement

All of the above documentation must be provided for your application to be considered. Grants are limited and issued on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more about LEAP, visit oeb.ca/leap.

What is OESP?

OESP is a program delivered by the Ontario Energy Board. It provides a monthly credit for low-income customers directly on their electricity bill.

Recent update:

On March 1, 2024, the Ontario Energy Board increased the income eligibility thresholds for OESP, allowing more households to qualify for support. If you're already receiving OESP support, you may be eligible for a higher credit amount. You'll need to reapply to the program to receive the updated benefit.

If you qualify for OSEP, you could receive:

• Between $35 and $75 per month ($420 to $900 a year)

OESP offers a higher level of assistance if your home is electrically heated or you rely on certain medical devices that use a lot of electricity.

Who qualifies?

Statistics Canada’s Low-income Measure (LIM) is used to determine which applicants are eligible to receive the credit. It is based on:

• Combined household income, after tax
• Number of people living in your home

To see how much you might be eligible for, visit this page.

How to apply

• Online: Visit ontarioelectricitysupport.ca.
• Phone: Call 1 (855) 831-8151

What you need to apply:

• Your Hydro Ottawa account number, service address and account holder’s full name
• Names and birthdates of everyone in your household
• Social Insurance Numbers or tax identifiers for residents aged 16 and older

Additional details:

• Applications are processed in four to six weeks.
• Approved credits will appear on your bill within six to eight weeks.
• Reapply every two years (or every five years if you’re a senior and pensioner).
• Moving? You'll need to reapply to the program to continue receiving credits.

What is EAP?
EAP is a program delivered by the Independent Electricity System Operator. It offers free energy-efficiency upgrades to help reduce your home’s electricity costs.

What you could receive
There are two levels of support:

1. Comprehensive support
   If you qualify for EAP’s comprehensive support option, you could receive:

• A free in-home energy assessment
• No-cost upgrades for LED lighting, insulation, ENERGY STAR® appliances (fridges, A/Cs), weatherstripping, and more.

2. Energy-saving kits

• Moderate-income customers that do not qualify for comprehensive support may receive an energy-saving kit that includes LED bulbs, smart power strips, and more.

Who qualifies?
You can apply to EAP if you are a:

• Resident of an eligible social/assisted housing, OR
• Low- or moderate-income household who owns, rents or leases a residence in Ontario and is listed as the primary or secondary utility account holder

The level of support you will receive is based on your before-tax household income and the number of people living in the household. To see which support you may be eligible for, visit this page.

How to apply
Online: Visit saveonenergy.ca.

What is an APA?
An APA is a flexible repayment plan to help you catch up on your past-due electricity bills with Hydro Ottawa.

What you could receive
An APA offers:

• A monthly payment plan for money that is owed
• Disconnection prevention (if terms are followed)

Note that some repayment plans may require an initial down payment and installments may vary.

Who qualifies?
An APA is available to eligible Hydro Ottawa customers with an outstanding balance who need more time to pay.

Important notes:

• If you are enrolled in LEAP, OESP or other financial assistance programs, you might still qualify for an APA. 
• You must not have defaulted on a past APA in the last two years.

How to apply

• Contact our Customer Service team to discuss your payment options.