Bill Calculations and Plan Choices
How to estimate your monthly electricity bill from kWh in Canada
Estimate a Canadian electricity bill from kWh: find your usage, apply the official energy price, add fixed and delivery charges, rebates and tax, with worked examples.
To estimate an electricity bill, multiply your kWh by the energy price of your plan, add the delivery and fixed charges for the billing period, subtract any rebate, and add sales tax. The energy price is the only part you can look up province-wide; delivery charges depend on your local utility, so take them from a recent bill. With one past bill and the current official price, you can estimate the next bill to within a few dollars. This guide shows how, with examples for Ontario, Alberta and BC.
It belongs to the hub guide on comparing electricity plans.
Step 1: estimate kWh
Best source: your own history. The same month last year, adjusted for changes (new appliances, more people at home, a colder or milder season), is the most reliable predictor.
If you are new to the home, build an estimate from appliances. Approximate figures below are illustrative, because models and habits differ widely:
| Use | How to estimate | Illustrative monthly kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge (modern) | Rated annual kWh on its EnerGuide label ÷ 12 | 30–50 |
| Electric water heater | Depends on hot water use | 250–450 |
| Electric baseboard heating, winter | Highly dependent on home size and climate | 800–2,500 |
| Electric dryer | kW rating × hours per load × loads | 40–80 |
| EV charging | km driven × kWh per km | 150–350 |
| Lighting and electronics | Sum of device watts × hours ÷ 1,000 | 80–200 |
The EnerGuide label on Canadian appliances gives annual energy use in kWh; Natural Resources Canada publishes the program details.
Step 2: apply the energy price
Use the official price with its effective date:
| Plan | Energy price (effective date) |
|---|---|
| Ontario RPP TOU | 9.1¢ / 14.6¢ / 18.9¢ (from 1 Nov 2026) |
| Ontario RPP tiered | 11.2¢ to the threshold, 13.2¢ above (from 1 Nov 2026) |
| Ontario RPP ULO | 3.7¢ / 9.1¢ / 14.6¢ / 37.7¢ (from 1 Nov 2026) |
| Alberta RoLR | 12.01¢–12.06¢ by area (1 Jan 2025–31 Dec 2026) |
| BC Hydro tiered | 11.87¢ / 14.08¢; flat 12.70¢ (as posted Oct 2026) |
| Retail contract | Price in your contract (+ Global Adjustment in Ontario) |
For time-of-use plans, either use your actual split by period or bracket the result with the lowest and highest price, which is what the bill estimator does.
Step 3: add delivery and fixed charges
Find on a recent bill the charges that are not energy: delivery (fixed and per-kWh), regulatory charges, transmission and distribution, admin fees, basic or access charges. Split them into:
- Fixed per period: add as is (adjust for the number of days if your bill states a daily rate).
- Per kWh: divide the charge by the kWh on that bill to get a ¢/kWh rate, then apply it to your new kWh.
Step 4: rebates and tax
- Ontario: subtract the Ontario Electricity Rebate, 15.7% of the pre-tax subtotal from 1 November 2026 (OER calculator).
- Add GST or HST, plus PST or QST where it applies to residential electricity in your province. Rules differ: for example, Québec bills show GST and QST; Ontario bills show HST.
Worked example 1: Ontario, tiered, winter
Illustrative: 820 kWh in a 31-day month. Last bill had $41.00 fixed delivery, plus variable delivery and regulatory charges of $15.20 on 760 kWh (2.0¢/kWh).
- Energy: 820 × 11.2¢ = $91.84 (all under the 1,000 kWh winter threshold).
- Fixed delivery: $41.00.
- Variable charges: 820 × 2.0¢ = $16.40.
- Pre-tax subtotal: $149.24.
- OER 15.7%: −$23.43.
- HST 13% on $149.24: +$19.40.
- Estimate: about $145.21.
Worked example 2: Alberta, Rate of Last Resort
Illustrative: 620 kWh, Calgary area. Energy: 620 × 12.06¢ = $74.77. From the last bill: admin charge, transmission, distribution and local access fee total $78.50, of which $38.00 is fixed and the rest is per kWh at about 6.5¢ on 623 kWh. New variable delivery: 620 × 6.5¢ = $40.30. Subtotal: $74.77 + $38.00 + $40.30 = $153.07, plus 5% GST = $160.72. In Alberta, delivery can be as large as the energy charge, which is why the energy price alone is a poor guide to the bill.
Worked example 3: BC Hydro, bi-monthly, tiered
Illustrative: 1,900 kWh over 62 days. Threshold: 62 × 22.1918 = 1,375.9 kWh. Energy: 1,375.9 × 11.87¢ = $163.32; 524.1 × 14.08¢ = $73.79. Basic charge: 62 × 23.44¢ = $14.53. Subtotal $251.64, plus 5% GST = $264.22, before any rider.
Why estimates miss
| Reason | Effect |
|---|---|
| Estimated meter reads on the previous bill | Next bill catches up and looks too high |
| Billing period length differs | More days = more kWh and more fixed charges |
| Weather | Heating or cooling dominates in extreme months |
| Rate change mid-period | Prorated prices and rebates |
| New riders | Small temporary charges or credits |
If your bill is far above the estimate, read why your hydro bill is suddenly high.
Once you can estimate a bill, compare plans with TOU vs ultra-low overnight vs tiered, and if you heat with gas, add the natural gas bill calculation.
FAQ
What is a typical Canadian household's monthly kWh?
It varies hugely by province and heating type. Use your own history rather than a national average.
Why does my bill show a daily charge?
Fixed charges are often set per day so that bills with different lengths are charged fairly.
Should I include the Global Adjustment?
Only if you are an Ontario customer on a retail contract. RPP prices already include it.
Can I get an exact bill in advance?
No, but with your own usage data and current prices you can get close. Your utility's online tools may also project the next bill.
Sources
- Ontario Energy Board — RPP prices and bill components
- Utilities Consumer Advocate — understanding Alberta bills
- BC Hydro — tiered threshold and basic charge
- Natural Resources Canada — EnerGuide appliance ratings
