High bill inquiry 

There are a number of reasons your bill may be higher than usual. You could simply have used more energy, the bill may reflect a slightly longer billing period than you are used to seeing, or your meter may have been read inaccurately. If you’ve made any changes to your home/business or added new appliances, the additional consumption may be the reason for your high bill. Answer the questions below to help figure out where you’re spending your energy dollars or login to My Account Self Service and use the online tool to understand why.

Have there been major changes or renovations to your building?
Any increase in space will impact your heating and cooling costs. Minimize potential costs by using energy efficiency ideas in your renovation. Not only will it result in lower monthly bills, you'll control the temperature more efficiently and keep the building consistently comfortable.

Have the hours of use for your building increased?
Increased hours of use can have a real impact your bill. For example, an office with a usage cycle of eight hours might use 75 to 125 KWh per day, while an office that accommodates two shifts (16 hours) may use as much as 150 to 200 KWh per day.

Have you converted to electric space heating and/or added any heaters?
Your building's electric furnace or baseboard heaters operate at 100% efficiency. However, electric heating can be a substantial part of your electricity bill, particularly in northern Ontario. Use a system with proper controls and make sure your building is insulated and sealed to minimize heat loss.

Are you using large amount of electricity during peak times?
If you’ve transitioned to time-of-use rates, using a large amount of electricity during peak times will cause your bills to go up. Explore how to shift your usage to off peak times or take measures to improve your business’s energy efficiency. 

Do you use portable plug-in heaters?
Electric portable heaters are normally 1500 watts. If a heater operates continuously, it can increase your bill significantly. This can really add up on a seasonal basis, especially if you have more than one heater operating.

Have you added any equipment, motors or large appliances?
A large freezer or refrigerator/freezer can add a significant amount to your bill every month; older models may cost even more to operate. Older water heaters, air conditioners and machinery can waste even more energy.

Are you using electricity for any additional purposes?
Any additional appliances or electrical devices will add to your overall consumption. Even if the power requirements of these appliances seem trivial, the extra usage can be significant. Review your electrical appliances with a critical eye - getting rid of that extra laser printer and the old fridge could reduce your usage considerably.

Have you recently installed air conditioning or made any changes to your HVAC system?
A recently installed or obsolete air conditioner or HVAC system can have a significant impact on your energy bill. For cost-saving tips, go to Using your HVAC efficiently and Upgrading your HVAC 

Check your meter
If you’re concerned that your meter may have been read inaccurately, see How to read your meter for easy-to-follow instructions on reading your meter and understanding the results.

Use our Budget Billing Plan to help balance your payments
If your bill is high because your consumption has increased (you may be running your air conditioner more during a hot month, or using additional energy to heat your pool every summer) our Budget Billing Plan can help. It moderates bill fluctuations by spreading out your payments more evenly over the year.

To register for the Budget Billing Plan, call our Customer Communications Centre at 1-888-664-9376.

Important: Only customers who have not enrolled with a retailer are eligible for our Budget Billing Plan. Please call your retailer to find out what products and services they may offer.