If you’re behind on your electricity bills, you may qualify for emergency financial assistance.
Low-income customers can get up to $650 in emergency financial assistance for their electricity bills ($780 if your home is heated electrically) through the Ontario Energy Board’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).
Are you eligible to receive assistance through LEAP?
To receive the emergency financial assistance grant you must:
- Be a Hydro Ottawa residential customer;
- Be behind or in arrears on your electricity bill or may face having your service disconnected;
- Have a family income below a certain limit (limits listed in the table below) and depend on two factors:
- How many people live in the house
- Your combined household income
The emergency financial assistance is provided on a first-come first-served basis. If you qualify, the grant will be applied directly to your Hydro Ottawa account.
LEAP qualification criteria by household income (after tax) and size:
| Household after tax income ($) | Number of people living in home | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| $38,000 or less | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| $38,001 – $54,000 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| $54,001 – $65,000 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| $65,001 – $71,000 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
How do I apply?
To apply for LEAP, you have three options:
Apply online: Visit the LEAP agency’s online portal at uwsimcoemuskoka.ca/leap.
Apply by phone: Call 1-855-487-5327 to begin your application. You can then submit required documents by email or mail.
Apply in person: Call 1-855-487-5327 to complete the phone screening. Eligible applicants will be referred to one of the resource centres to complete step 2 of the application.
Step 1: Collecting your paperwork
You will be required to provide:
- The most current electricity bill for your residence;
- If applicable, a copy of your ‘’Notice of Service Disconnection’’;
- Applicant identification (ID):
- Two pieces of ID for the main applicant; and
- One piece of ID for each member of the household;
- A copy of a rental receipt, lease or mortgage document;
- In lieu of a rental receipt or mortgage document intake agencies can accept:
- A letter from a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP);
- An attestation from a legal clinic; or
- A landlord letter.
- In lieu of a rental receipt or mortgage document intake agencies can accept:
- Proof of household income - cheque stub, employment letter, income tax return (for adult members of household); and
- A copy of your most recent bank statement.
All of the above documentation must be provided for your application to be considered for submission.
Step 2: Status of your application
The resource centre will submit your application to the LEAP agency.
With your consent, the agency may contact Hydro Ottawa and ask us to pause any further disconnection or collection activity on your account until a decision is made.
The LEAP agency will review your application, and determine your eligibility for the emergency financial assistance grant. They will communicate that decision to the resource centre and Hydro Ottawa.
To learn more about LEAP, you can also visit oeb.ca/leap