Why are you promoting fuel switching?
We are always looking for ways to help our customers and have found that Ontarians who
use oil or propane to heat their homes and don’t have access to natural gas have the
potential to realize substantial benefits by switching their home and water heating to
electric heat.
Why should I switch?
The benefits of switching include reduced home insurance rates, lower maintenance, lower
risk as you don’t have to worry about oil spills, lower GHG emissions, and increased
convenience (no need to schedule oil/propane storage tank refills).
Electric furnaces and water heaters are also more efficient, as no energy is wasted
through heat released via an exhaust
How much can I save by switching?
Your savings will depend on how much energy you consume for space and water heating
every year. The more you use, the more you can expect to save by switching to electric
heating. For an estimate of what you can expect to save on an annual basis, see the
energy calculator above.
With Hydro One’s renewed focus on customer service, we’re promoting switching to
electric heat in order to help our customers save money on their energy bills. In
addition, our customers have told us that the environment is very important to them.
Switching your space and water heating fuel from oil or propane to electric may reduce
your annual GHG emissions. Use the above calculator to see how much you can reduce your
emissions.
How easy is it to switch?
If your home already has ductwork installed, the installation of an electric furnace is
as easy as the installation of an oil or propane furnace.
If your home has a panel that is 100 amps or lower, installing an electric furnace may
also require a service panel upgrade. Increased panel capacity will also help you
accommodate any other future added electrical loads and increases the value of your
home.
Speak with your HVAC contractor for more information about installation requirements for
your particular needs, or contact one of the contractors listed on our page.
Can my current electrical panel accommodate electric space/water heating?
If your home has a panel that is 100 amps or lower, installing an electric furnace may
also require a service panel upgrade. Increased panel capacity will also help you
accommodate any other future added electrical loads and increases the value of your
home. Contact a certified contractor to learn more.
Why isn't natural gas included in the comparison?
Almost half of Hydro One’s customers don’t have natural gas supply in their area. While
natural gas can be an economical way to heat your home, our fuel switching calculator
was designed to educate/assist our customers that don’t have that option.
Are there any rebates or incentive programs available to switch from oil or propane to
electric space or water heating?
You may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 in incentives towards home energy retrofits,
including heat pumps, insulation, air sealing and more through the Canada Greener Homes
Grant offered by the Federal government.
What happens if electricity prices rise substantially, or oil/propane prices fall after
I switch?
Predicting electricity, oil and propane prices with certainty over the lifetime of the
heating equipment is virtually impossible. Prices may well vary and it is just as likely
that oil/propane prices continue to rise substantially faster than electricity prices.
