Bill Calculator | Ontario Energy Board

Understanding and Comparing Energy Bills in Ontario

Are you an Ontario resident or business owner looking too understand your energy costs and explore options for saving money? This guide explains how to decipher your utility bill and compare it to potential energy contracts offered by retailers. Understanding your energy usage and available options can empower you to make informed decisions and possibly lower your expenses.

Understanding Your Current Utility Bill

Your monthly utility bill provides a detailed breakdown of your energy consumption and associated costs.To effectively use teh bill calculators provided (see links below), you’ll need to gather details from your recent bills – ideally several months to account for seasonal variations.

Here’s what to look for:

Electricity Usage: Find the line item on your bill that details your electricity consumption, typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Usage Patterns: Note how your electricity usage changes throughout the year. Winter and summer seasons frequently enough have different usage patterns due to heating and cooling needs.
Accessing Online Data: Many utilities now provide detailed usage data through online account access. Check your utility’s website for this feature.
Contacting Your Utility: If you can’t find the information you need,don’t hesitate to contact your utility directly. They can provide detailed reports on your electricity use.

Bill Calculators for Residents and Businesses

The ontario Energy Board provides calculators to help you estimate your bills under different scenarios. These tools are valuable for comparing your current utility rates with potential contract offers from energy retailers.

home Residential calculator
store Small Business Calculator

Comparing Your bill to an Energy Contract

Energy retailers, also known as electricity retailers or natural gas marketers, offer contracts with fixed or variable rates. These contracts can potentially save you money, but it’s crucial to compare them to your current utility rates.

The bill calculators use the regulated rates established by the Ontario Energy Board for each utility. You can input the contract price offered by an energy retailer into the calculator to see a side-by-side comparison of your potential costs.

Here’s how to approach the comparison:

Gather Contract Details: Obtain a clear understanding of the contract price per kWh (for electricity) or per cubic meter (for natural gas) offered by the retailer. Pay attention to any associated fees or conditions.
Use the Calculators: Input your historical usage data and the contract price into the appropriate calculator (residential or small business, electricity or natural gas).
Analyze the Results: Carefully review the estimated bill comparison. Consider both the total cost and the rate stability offered by the contract.

Understand Your Usage: Knowing how much energy you use and when you use it is the frist step to saving money. Utilize the Calculators: The Ontario Energy Board’s bill calculators are powerful tools for comparing rates.
Compare Carefully: Don’t automatically assume an energy contract will save you money.Thoroughly compare the contract price and terms to your current utility rates.
* Consider Rate Stability: Fixed-rate contracts offer price certainty,while variable-rate contracts may fluctuate with market conditions.Looking Ahead: The Ontario energy market is constantly evolving.Staying informed about regulated rates, contract options, and energy-