Continuing its program of affordable energy rates, Ontario today passed legislation that will rebate the provincial portion of the HST from electricity bills as of January 1, 2017. The government estimates that five million families, farms and small businesses will see bill reductions.

Ontario has already removed the Debt Retirement Charge from residential electricity bills and introduced the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) to provide a monthly credit to eligible low-income households (see our post “A good day at the office” – Ontario Electricity Support Program Now Accepting Applications)

The Ontario Rebate for Electricity Consumers Act, 2016 will reduce electricity costs by 8 per cent on the amount before tax, an average savings of about $130 annually or $11 each month, for about five million residential consumers, farms and small businesses.

Eligible rural electricity ratepayers will receive additional relief, decreasing total electricity bills by an average of $540 a year or $45 each month.

Commercial, institutional and industrial ratepayers will also benefit from up to 34 per cent lower electricity costs through the expansion of the Industrial Conservation Initiative (ICI). The ICI provides a strong incentive for large electricity consumers to shift their electricity consumption to off-peak hours to reduce their bills by up to one-third.

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Manning Environmental Law is a Canadian law firm based in Toronto, Ontario. Our practice is focussed on environmental law, energy law and aboriginal law. 

Paul Manning is a certified specialist in environmental law. He has been named as one of the World’s Leading Environmental Lawyers by Who’s Who Legal: 2016.

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