Ontario Time-of-Use Rates: Prices, Time Periods, and Plan Choice

Ontario residential customers on the Regulated Price Plan can choose Time-of-Use (TOU), Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO), or Tiered pricing. Effective November 1, 2026, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) lists TOU prices of 9.1, 14.6, and 18.9¢/kWh, while ULO ranges from 3.7¢/kWh overnight to 37.7¢/kWh during weekday evenings. Which plan costs least depends on when and how much electricity you use.

The cheapest scheduled period is ULO overnight, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., at 3.7¢/kWh. TOU off-peak electricity costs 9.1¢/kWh during designated off-peak hours. However, a low overnight rate does not guarantee a lower bill: ULO has a much higher weekday evening rate, while Tiered pricing depends on monthly usage thresholds rather than the time of day. Your smart-meter data can help you compare plans using your actual consumption pattern.

Which Electricity Price Plans Can Ontario Households Choose?

The OEB's Regulated Price Plan (RPP) gives eligible residential and small-business customers three options. Customers on a retailer contract pay the contract price instead, so the comparisons below apply only to regulated plans.

Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing

With Ontario time-of-use rates, the price per kWh depends on the time and day.

• Off-peak: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, plus all day on weekends and designated holidays.

• Mid-peak & On-peak: These hours swap with the seasons because grid demand peaks at different times in summer and winter.

• Summer (May 1 - Oct 31): On-peak is weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Winter (Nov 1 - Apr 30): On-peak is split into two weekday blocks: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) pricing

ULO is built for households that can move a large share of their use overnight.

• Ultra-low period: 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day (at just 3.9¢/kWh). The ultra-low overnight rates in Ontario are perfect for overnight EV charging.

• On-peak period: Weekdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. (spiking to 39.1¢/kWh). A household that cooks, does laundry, and runs the AC heavily between 4 and 9 p.m. will likely pay significantly more on ULO than on other plans.

Tiered pricing and seasonal thresholds

Tiered pricing charges a flat rate at any hour, but the price rises once usage passes a monthly threshold: 600 kWh in summer and 1,000 kWh in winter for residential customers. The OEB currently lists Tier 1 at 12.0¢/kWh and Tier 2 at 14.2¢/kWh.

Tiered is often simpler for households that can't change when they use power. To compare tiered vs. time-of-use Ontario pricing fairly, use your actual monthly usage and hourly pattern, not headline rates.

What Are the Current Ontario TOU, ULO, and Tiered Prices?

Effective November 1, 2026, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) sets the following prices for customers on the Regulated Price Plan. These prices apply to the TOU, ULO, and Tiered options described below. Delivery charges, regulatory charges, taxes, and applicable credits are accounted for separately on your bill.

Under TOU, Ontario off-peak hours stay the same year-round. The seasonal switch moves only the mid-peak and on-peak periods. For residential customers on Tiered pricing, the lower-price threshold is 1,000 kWh per month in winter (November 1–April 30) and 600 kWh in summer (May 1–October 31). ULO hours remain the same throughout the year.

TOU vs Tiered vs Ultra-Low Overnight: Which Plan Fits Your Usage?

No single plan is the cheapest for everyone. To find your best fit, review your interval data and factor in weekday evenings, EV charging, electric heating, and seasonal swings.

Consider these common household patterns when comparing plans:

• Households with substantial overnight EV charging: ULO may be worth comparing if the vehicle can reliably charge between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. and the household can limit expensive weekday evening use.

• Households with moderate evening use and flexible daytime consumption: TOU may be a better fit when some electricity use can be shifted away from weekday on-peak hours without major changes to daily routines.

• Households that cannot easily change when they use electricity: Tiered pricing may be simpler to manage because the energy price does not depend on the time of day, although the rate rises above the applicable monthly threshold.

These are starting points, not guaranteed rankings. Compare each option against your actual smart-meter data and the applicable rates before switching.

When TOU May Fit

TOU suits households that avoid the weekday on-peak window but still use a fair amount of power overnight and on weekends. Its narrower price gap is more forgiving when dinner, cooling, or other routines need evening power.

A home battery backup may help shift some electricity use from higher-priced TOU periods to lower-priced hours, provided the system can charge and discharge as needed. The potential savings depend on how many kWh you shift, the price difference between the periods, round-trip losses, and equipment costs. Compare those savings with the value of backup power rather than assuming that battery storage will automatically lower your total bill.

When Ultra-Low Overnight May Fit

ULO pays off when a large, flexible load such as an EV can reliably run between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The catch is the 39.1¢/kWh weekday price from 4 to 9 p.m., which can wipe out overnight savings if evening cooking, cooling, or heating can't be cut back.

The BLUETTI Apex 300 delivers 3,840 W of AC output from 2,764.8 Wh of capacity. When used in a suitable setup, it can store energy charged overnight and supply selected compatible loads during the weekday on-peak period. The potential electricity savings depend on the energy actually shifted, the applicable price difference, conversion losses, and how frequently the system operates across those periods. Compare these potential savings with equipment costs and the value of backup power before deciding whether the setup makes financial sense.

When Tiered Pricing May Fit

Tiered suits homes whose usage is hard to move, particularly if monthly use stays near or below the threshold, and it avoids ULO's expensive weekday peak. The trade-off is that a high-use month pushes more kWh into Tier 2, even overnight.

Because Tiered pricing does not vary by time of day, shifting grid consumption between hours alone does not reduce the energy rate. Battery storage may offer greater bill-saving potential under TOU or ULO when it can replace electricity that would otherwise be purchased during higher-priced periods. Actual savings depend on the price difference, the energy shifted, conversion losses, equipment costs, and the value of outage backup. The BLUETTI B300K adds 2,764.8 Wh to compatible systems. Size any expansion from the energy you actually use during high-price periods.

For longer windows still, the BLUETTI B500K offers 5,120 Wh of capacity for higher-load homes. Its value depends on the price gap, conversion losses, how often you cycle it, and how much you value outage backup.

How to Switch Plans and Confirm Eligibility

Eligible RPP customers can switch plans through their local utility. Switching only changes how your electricity is priced, not the electricity delivered.

Check Account and Meter Eligibility

Confirm your account is on the RPP and the plan you want is offered. If you're on a retailer contract, review its terms first.

Review Enrolment and Effective Dates

Follow your utility's sign-up process, note the effective date, and compare your first full billing period with your previous usage.

Recheck Rates and Time Periods

Check the OEB's current prices before setting a long-term battery schedule, along with the holiday calendar. On designated holidays, TOU off-peak applies all day, and ULO uses its weekend off-peak price from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

What TOU Pricing Does Not Change on Your Bill

Choosing a plan changes how your electricity use is priced, not the other charges, so a cheaper period won't cut your total hydro bill by the same percentage.

Delivery, Taxes, and Other Charges

Delivery charges vary by utility, and regulatory charges, taxes, and credits such as the Ontario Electricity Rebate also affect the total. Some delivery charges rise with kWh while others are fixed.

Retailer Contracts and Local Bill Details

Retailer-contract customers pay the contract price instead of the RPP price, and the Global Adjustment may be billed differently. Use your own account details when comparing plans.

Conclusion

Ontario households can choose TOU, ULO, or Tiered pricing, and the cheapest option depends on when you use electricity. TOU rewards regular off-peak use, ULO rewards overnight use but charges heavily on weekday evenings, and Tiered ignores the clock but raises the price above a seasonal threshold. Compare plans using your own kWh pattern, including delivery, taxes, credits, and storage losses.

FAQs

What are Ontario’s TOU hours in summer and winter?

Off-peak is 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily and all day on weekends and holidays. In summer, on-peak is weekdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with mid-peak from 7 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. In winter, the two swap. Check the current OEB schedule before relying on these hours.

What is the difference between TOU and ULO?

TOU uses three prices with a moderate gap. ULO uses four, including a very cheap 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. rate and a much higher weekday 4 to 9 p.m. rate. It suits overnight EV charging but may cost more for homes with heavy evening use.

Is Tiered pricing cheaper than TOU?

It can be, but not for every household. Tiered works well when monthly use stays under the threshold or can't be moved away from peak hours. TOU can come out cheaper when much of your usage falls overnight or on weekends. For the most reliable answer, run your interval data through the OEB's bill calculator or your utility's tool.

Can I change from TOU to ULO?

Yes, if you're an eligible residential or small-business customer on the Regulated Price Plan. Your local utility handles enrolment and sets the effective date. Retailer-contract customers should review their terms first.

When should I recheck Ontario’s electricity rates?

Check the OEB's current electricity prices when choosing a plan, setting a battery schedule, or reviewing a new bill. The prices in this article took effect on November 1, 2026. Recheck the OEB's official rates page after each annual price announcement and when seasonal TOU hours and residential Tiered thresholds change on May 1 and November 1.