FAQs

The accumulated credit must be used within 12 months. All credits are written off once credits have accumulated for 12 contiguous months. Any unused credits from a previous month will show on your bill as a line item labelled ‘Generation Credits Carried Forward’. Please refer to section 8 of the legislation for more information.

If you have a contract with a licensed electricity retailer, please contact your retailer before making any arrangements with Hydro Ottawa to ensure that your agreement allows for net metering. Confirmation from your retailer is required before any net metering installations.

If you are an existing net metering customer and would like to enroll with an electricity retailer, confirmation from a licensed retailer is required to remain a net metering customer with Hydro Ottawa.

Information about delivery charges is available on our Residential Rates and Conditions page and our Business Rates and Conditions page.

Hydro Ottawa’s distribution rate, included in the delivery charge, represents only a small portion of your bill. Some of these charges are fixed and do not change from month to month. The rest are variable and increase or decrease depending on the electricity you use.

Residential distribution rates are transitioning to a fully fixed charge by January 1, 2020. This is in accordance with the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) Residential Rate Change policy.

Net metering credits can only be applied to the portion of the bill subject to a per-kilowatt-hour charge or demand charges (kW) and not the fixed charges. Therefore, the net metering credit can be used against the variable charges within the delivery line but not any fixed charge. Please refer to the provincial legislation under section 8 for more information.

Yes. Additional charges include an account setup charge (where there is no existing account), a monthly* service charge, and in some circumstances, an administration charge.

*Starting November 1, 2021, the net metering monthly service charge will no longer be applied to net metered bills until further notice. Future adjustments may be required subject to provincial regulations and legislations, program intake, plus administrative and operational needs.

Other charges that may apply include those listed here.

Simply submit a request for a DER connection by filling out a Preliminary Consultation Information Request (PCIR). If you have any general questions, reach out to [email protected].

See “Tips and tools” for conservation ideas, DIY measures and helpful calculators.