More Ontarians are now eligible for electricity rebates
![Hydro Power lines are seen against cloudy skies near Murvale, Ont., northwest of Kingston, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld](/content/dam/cp24/en/images/2022/10/7/hydro-1-6100775-1680175369999.jpg)
More Ontario residents are now eligible for an electricity support program that could see them receive monthly credits on their bills.
The provincial government announced it would be increasing the income eligibility threshold for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) in October 2023.
The changes take effect on March 1.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The Ministry of Energy says that across the board there are increases in income thresholds up to 35 per cent.
Households of five people or more with a combined income of $71,000 after tax deductions now qualify for the program.
Before Friday, the threshold was $52,000.
A full breakdown of income thresholds, including the number of people that need to reside within the household, can be found on the government's website.
“This investment in the Ontario Electricity Support Program demonstrates how serious our government is about making life more affordable for Ontarians,” Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa said in a statement.
“Our government will continue to find even more ways to bring down costs to ensure that nobody in our province gets left behind.”
The OESP provides lower-income homes with a monthly rebate on their electricity bill. The amount will depend on a number of factors, including combined household income and the number of people who live in the home.
Most of those eligible will receive credits ranging from $35 to $75 a month, although the government says that higher rebates are available to customers who are Indigenous, living with Indigenous family members, using electric heating, or using certain electricity-intensive medical devices.
Existing OESP residents may be eligible for higher credit amounts and should contact the customer service centre to find out if they should reapply.
Officials say that 212,000 households were eligible for the OESP in 2022. It's expected that another 100,000 Ontario households could be eligible with the new threshold.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978649.1722015109!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.