Your bill and rates explained
Understanding your electricity bill helps your business budget effectively, manage energy use better and make more informed decisions. Find out who receives each portion of your bill payment, see rate plan options by customer class and view sample bills to help you better understand what you’re paying for — and why.
Compare rate plans
Switch your rate plan
Hydro Ottawa service charges
Want to know more about various charges that may appear on your bill? View a full list of Hydro Ottawa’s service fees.
Small business customers
By default, small business customers with peak demand under 50 kW are enrolled in the Regulated Price Plan (RPP). Its prices are set by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and updated each year on November 1. If you're eligible, you can choose from three rate plan options:
Prices vary based on when you use electricity. This plan reflects changes in electricity demand throughout the day:
View a sample Time-of-Use bill →
This plan offers a significantly lower rate overnight in exchange for higher rates during peak hours.
View a sample Ultra-Low Overnight bill →
Pay a fixed rate for electricity up to a set monthly threshold. If you exceed the threshold, you pay a higher rate for additional usage.
These thresholds apply year‑round, regardless of season.
View a sample Tiered bill →
Additional rate information
MyAccount Rate Plan Comparison Tool →
Compare your actual electricity costs under TOU and Tiered pricing using your real usage data. No manual data entry is needed.
Ontario Energy Board Bill Calculator →
Use this tool to estimate your monthly costs under the ULO rate plan.
Reminder: Savings depend on how much electricity you use and when you use it. Consider your usage habits and seasonal variations when comparing plans.
You can switch between TOU, ULO or Tiered pricing at any time.
How to switch rate plans:
- Log in to MyAccount.
- Choose “Manage Rate Plan” and follow the prompts.
Other ways to switch rate plans:
If you prefer, you can also request a rate plan change by:
- Email: Send your completed and signed fillable PDF form to [email protected]
- Phone: Call (613) 738-6400 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
- Mail: Print and mail your signed form to:
Hydro Ottawa
PO Box 8700
Ottawa, ON K1G 3S4
Attn: Customer Service – Rate Selection Form
Hydro Ottawa keeps only the portion of the bill related to distribution. We collect and pass along other charges without markup to:
- Electricity generators
- Transmission providers
- Regulators like the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and the Ontario Ministry of Energy
- Provincial and federal governments
Here's how an average bill breaks down (based on 750 kWh/month on Time-of-Use pricing):
Breakdown of charges
Effective
January 1, 2025
49.8%
Electricity Generation Charge
Paid to the generators of hydroelectric, nuclear, fossil-fueled, wind, biomass, biogas and solar electricity
23.1%
Hydro Ottawa Fixed & Other Delivery Charges
A portion retained by Hydro Ottawa.
10.3%
Transmission Charges
Paid to the transmitters who operate and maintain the province-wide transmission system.
2.0%
Line Loss Adjustment
Paid to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).
35.4%
Delivery Charge
3.3%
Regulatory Charges
Paid to the IESO and the Ministry of Energy for administering the system and funding programs
11.5%
Harmonized Sales Tax (of 13%)
Paid to Federal and Provincial Government
For the average Standard Supply Service residential customer on Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing using 750 kWh per month. The percentages do not include the Ontario Electricity Rebate.
Delivery charges
These charges cover the cost of getting electricity from the generating station to your home. That includes maintaining transmission and distribution lines, operating provincial and local electricity systems, and accounting for line losses (small amounts of electricity lost as it travels through the grid).
Residential distribution rates are fully fixed, as mandated by the OEB.
- Delivery charge breakdown (as of Jan. 1, 2025):
- Transmission: $0.0198/kWh
- Hydro Ottawa other charges (non-RPP): $0.0039/kWh
- Hydro Ottawa fixed charge: $34.51/month
- Smart meter entity charge: $0.42/month
- Low-voltage services charge: $0.00005/kWh
- Delivery line loss charge: Calculated by multiplying the electricity consumption (per RPP category) by the loss factor, then multiplying that number by the current month's electricity rate
Other charges and taxes
Your bill also includes:
- Regulatory charges: Set by the OEB to recover the costs of administering the wholesale electricity system and maintaining reliability ($0.0060/kWh). If you do not purchase your electricity from a retailer, an additional $0.25 monthly administration fee applies.
- Ontario Electricity Rebate: A 13.1 per cent rebate applied before tax for eligible customers.
HST (13 per cent): Applied to the total bill.
Additional service charges may appear depending on your situation:
Ontario’s electricity is generated from a mix of sources, including nuclear, hydro, wind, solar and natural gas.
View the latest supply mix data →
Are you on net metering? View a sample net metering bill or learn more about net metering →
For more information about your bill, see our Rate Selection FAQs page.