Ontario Energy Board

Service: Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)

Record #: BAR4513
Last Modified: 23 May 2024
Last Full Update: 23 May 2024

Description

Description (Service)

The OESP is an Ontario Energy Board (OEB) program that lowers electricity bills for lower-income households. The OESP provides a monthly credit to eligible customers based on household income and household size. The OESP credits are applied directly to eligible customers’ bills.

Eligible customers will receive on-bill credits for two years regardless of when a customer applies and their credits begin.

The Ontario Native Welfare Administrators Association (ONWAA) is available to assist Indigenous households with their applications. Indigenous households can contact ONWAA at 1-844-885-3157 or email oesp@onwaa.ca to confirm their availability.

Applicants will need to have filed their 2023 taxes to do the online application.

If you have not filed an income tax return recently, or if your situation has changed since you last filed, your income will need to be manually verified by a designated intake agency. To view a map of intake agencies https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1JHAgVrCuLAMYGWyhnYHTXc9vnOI&ll=44.757578733737965%2C-77.71914649765654&z=6 

Documents needed:

  • Your electricity bill account number, service address, and account holder details.
  • The birthdates and names of all residents in your home.
  • Social Insurance Numbers or Temporary Tax Numbers for tax-filing household members.

If the home is electrically heated, or a resident relies on an approved medical device requiring a lot of electricity, OESP offers a higher level of assistance. There are three at-home medical devices that will qualify an applicant for the higher level of assistance:

  1. Kidney Dialysis Machine
  2. Mechanical Ventilators (invasive and non-invasive)
  3. Oxygen Concentrator

The OESP is for the primary residence only, lived in more than 6 months of the year.

Service Details

Public Comments

Effective March 1, 2024, the Ontario government has changed the household income amounts needed to qualify for OESP. This change makes more households eligible for electricity bill relief. 

Existing OESP recipients may be eligible for higher credit amounts. Reapply to get the higher credit if you are eligible. Contact the OESP Contact Centre at 1-855-831-8151 or help@ontarioelectricitysupport.ca to find out if you are eligible for a higher credit and how to reapply.

Beware of energy scams:

There are a growing number of scams aimed at energy consumers. The OEB and OESP are not affiliated with any private energy services companies. We do not deliver heating, cooling or any other home energy services. 

No home energy assessment, audit, inspection or home visit is required to apply for the OESP.

Hours

The OESP Contact Centre is open Mon-Fri 8:30 am-5 pm

Areas Served Ontario
Eligibility The program is available to all lower-income customers who have accounts with electricity distributors or unit sub-meter providers. Customers must apply to the program. 
 
The OESP on-bill credit amount will depend on how many people live in the house and the combined household income after tax. See OESP website for amounts and eligibility requirements.
Application

Application can be made online through www.ontarioelectricitysupport.ca/ 

Applicants will need to be able to print and mail a form after completing the online application. If the applicant cannot print and mail a form, they can contact a local intake agency to do the application with you.

Applicants will need to have filed their 2023 taxes to do the online application.

If applicants have NOT filed their 2023 taxes, or their income has dropped in 2024, applicants need to contact a local intake agency who can complete the application on their behalf.

Languages English
Fees None

Address and Location

Located In Community Ontario
Physical Access Not Applicable

Contact Information

Toll Free Phone 1-855-831-8151
TTY Phone 1-800-855-1155
E-Mail help@OntarioElectricitySupport.ca
Website www.ontarioelectricitysupport.ca/
Mailing Address PO Box 1540 STN B 
Ottawa, ON K1P 0C7

Categories

Service Categories Financial Assistance Programs
Service Category Groups Income Programs