Rates, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
How electricity and natural gas rates are set in each province, what the official 2026 prices are, and which rule changes already apply.
compare electricity rates and plans Canada
Electricity and natural gas rates in Canada, decoded for your 2026 bill
Your hydro or gas bill is a stack of regulated prices, delivery charges, riders, rebates and taxes, and the plan you choose changes only some of them. These guides show how each line is set in your province, how to compare plans and contracts with your own numbers, and where to turn when a bill looks wrong.
- See the official 2026 rates by province, with the date each one took effect
- Work out TOU, ultra-low overnight, tiered and fixed-contract costs from your own usage
- Know your cancellation rights, help programs and which regulator handles complaints
Start hereElectricity bill estimator (kWh × price + fixed charges)
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Bill Calculations and Plan Choices
Worked examples for estimating your bill, comparing time-of-use, tiered, flat and fixed-price plans, and deciding whether a contract or equal billing suits you.
Billing Problems, Complaints and Official Sources
What goes wrong with energy bills and contracts, your cancellation rights, help for low-income households and how to complain to the right regulator.
Start here
Rates, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
Alberta Rate of Last Resort vs competitive retailers: what changed and how to choose
Alberta's Rate of Last Resort replaced the RRO on 1 January 2025 at about 12¢/kWh to the end of 2026. How it compares with retailer plans and what to check for 2027.
Bill Calculations and Plan Choices
How to compare electricity plans in Canada: a step-by-step method with worked examples
A repeatable method to compare electricity rate plans and retail offers in Canada using your own usage, official 2026 prices and clearly labelled examples.
Rates, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
Electricity rates in Canada for 2026 by province: who sets them and how to compare
How electricity and gas rates are set in each Canadian province in 2026, which regulator approves them, where retail choice exists and how to compare plans.
Billing Problems, Complaints and Official Sources
How to complain about a hydro or gas bill in Canada: utility, regulator and mediation by province
Where to complain about an electricity or natural gas bill or retailer in Canada, in what order, and what to include, with the regulator or mediator for each province.
Rates, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
Ontario electricity prices from November 1, 2026: TOU, ultra-low overnight and tiered
Ontario Regulated Price Plan prices from 1 November 2026 for time-of-use, ultra-low overnight and tiered, with hours, thresholds and what they mean for your bill.
Bill Calculations and Plan Choices
TOU vs ultra-low overnight vs tiered in Ontario: which plan is cheaper for you?
Work out whether time-of-use, ultra-low overnight or tiered pricing is cheaper for your Ontario home, with November 2026 prices, break-even shares and examples.
Tools
Electricity bill estimator (kWh × price + fixed charges)
Estimate a billing period's electricity cost range from your kWh, an official energy price range and your fixed charges.
Rate plan comparison (plan A vs plan B average price)
Compare two electricity plans for the same usage by entering each plan's average price per kWh, or start from an illustrative preset.
Fixed contract or switch: does the saving beat the exit fee?
Check how long a cheaper energy contract or switch takes to recover an exit fee or other switching cost, and the net result over the term.
Ontario Electricity Rebate calculator (15.7% from 1 Nov 2026)
Work out the Ontario Electricity Rebate on a bill's pre-tax subtotal at 15.7% from 1 November 2026, or at an earlier rate for an older bill.
Checklist before you switch plan or sign an energy contract
Go through these checks before choosing a rate plan, signing a retail electricity or gas contract, or leaving one.
Household electricity and gas pricing options in Canada compared
| Option | How it works | Who it can suit | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario RPP time-of-use | Three prices by time of day; from 1 Nov 2026: 9.1¢ off-peak, 14.6¢ mid-peak, 18.9¢ on-peak | Households that can run laundry, dishwashers and heating loads off-peak | Winter on-peak runs weekday mornings 7–11 a.m. and evenings 5–7 p.m. |
| Ontario RPP ultra-low overnight | 3.7¢ from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day, but 37.7¢ weekdays 4–9 p.m. (from 1 Nov 2026) | EV owners and homes with large loads they can shift overnight | A few hours of weekday evening use can wipe out the overnight saving |
| Ontario RPP tiered | 11.2¢ up to the monthly threshold (1,000 kWh in winter), 13.2¢ above (from 1 Nov 2026) | Households that cannot shift use, or use a lot in peak hours | Summer threshold is lower (600 kWh), so more use can fall into tier 2 |
| Alberta Rate of Last Resort | Default electricity rate fixed for 1 Jan 2025–31 Dec 2026 (about 12.01¢–12.06¢ by area), reset every two years | People who want a stable default without a contract | Energy charge only; delivery and admin charges are added, and the 2027 rate is set separately |
Frequently asked questions
Who sets electricity and natural gas rates in Canada?
Provinces do, not Ottawa. A provincial regulator such as the Ontario Energy Board, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the BC Utilities Commission or Québec's Régie de l'énergie approves utility rates after a public review. In Ontario and Alberta you may also buy energy from a licensed retailer instead of the regulated default.
What are Ontario's electricity prices from 1 November 2026?
Under the Regulated Price Plan, time-of-use is 9.1¢ off-peak, 14.6¢ mid-peak and 18.9¢ on-peak per kWh; ultra-low overnight is 3.7¢ overnight, 9.1¢ weekend off-peak, 14.6¢ mid-peak and 37.7¢ on-peak; tiered is 11.2¢ up to the threshold and 13.2¢ above. Delivery and regulatory charges are extra, and the Ontario Electricity Rebate fell to 15.7%.
Is the carbon tax still on my natural gas bill?
No consumer fuel charge has been applied since 1 April 2025, when the federal rate was set to zero; British Columbia also ended its own consumer carbon tax on that date. Québec's cap-and-trade system is separate. Gas bills can still include delivery-related costs that utilities face for their own emissions, so check the line descriptions on your bill.
Should I sign a fixed-price energy contract?
Only after comparing the total price with the regulated default for the same period, including admin fees and, in Ontario, the Global Adjustment. A fixed price buys certainty, not necessarily savings. Read the exit fee and renewal terms and use the contract payback tool before signing.
Can I cancel an energy retail contract?
Yes. In Ontario you can cancel without penalty within 10 days after acknowledging receipt of the contract copy, and without cost up to 30 days after receiving the second bill; later you can cancel on 10 days' notice with a capped fee for most household contracts. Alberta retailers give a 10-day cooling-off period. Check your contract and the regulator's guidance.
Why did my bill go up when the price per kWh went down?
Often because something else on the bill changed: more winter usage, a smaller rebate, higher delivery charges, a rate rider, or an actual meter read after estimated ones. Compare kWh and each line item with the same month last year before assuming a price error.
Where do I complain about an energy bill?
First to the utility or retailer in writing. If that fails, go to the provincial body: the OEB in Ontario, the Utilities Consumer Advocate (mediation) in Alberta, the BCUC in British Columbia and the Régie de l'énergie in Québec. Keep copies of bills, letters and call notes.
How this site is made
Hydro Bill Decoded is an independent information project. Guides are drafted with the help of AI writing tools and checked against official and primary sources before publication; see our Editorial Policy. We are not affiliated with any provider mentioned on the site and do not sell products or services.