Electricity Retailers and Energy Contracts
Fewer than 1 in 10 customers in Ontario buy their electricity from an electricity retailer. Has an energy retailer ever approached you at your home? Before you enter into an energy contract for your electricity, do your research - compare prices, read and fully understand what you would be agreeing to.
If you’re thinking about signing an energy contract, know you will pay the price in the contract, which is not regulated by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). This page has important information to help you understand energy contracts.
Quick Facts
- The Energy Retailer’s salesperson must give you a business card and show their company ID badge.
- Your utility bill is private and contains personal information such as your account number and energy usage. The energy retailer only needs this information if you decide to enter into an energy contract.
- Energy retailers are not your utility, the government, or the OEB. They are licensed by the OEB but the prices they offer are not regulated.
- Energy retailers can not sign you up for a contract while they are at your home. They can come to your home to give you information, but they may not leave a copy of a contract with you.
- There are limits on the times of day and number of times an energy retailer can come to your home. Learn more about these limits.
- You have a choice: you may decide to purchase your electricity from your utility or enter an energy contract with a licensed energy retailer.
- With, or without, an energy contract, you can be eligible for assistance programs from the government or your utility.
- An energy contract may not save you money. Take the time to review and compare the contract offer and the prices charged by your utility.
- Before you enter into an energy contract, get a current price comparison. Use your own utility bill, the contract price offer and the OEB’s bill calculator.
- If you decide to move forward with an energy contract, the retailer must provide certain documents so you can make an informed decision: the energy contract, a disclosure statement, and a price comparison. Read the information thoroughly.
- An energy contract is a legal agreement between you and an energy retailer. When you sign, you have rights and you also have responsibilities.
- An energy contract does not remove other charges from your utility bill. The pricing set out in your contract only applies to the electricity line and does not impact other charges such as delivery, Global Adjustment (GA), etc.
- Keep a paper trail. Keep copies of all materials that an energy retailer gives you, including any disclosure statements, price comparisons, energy contracts, and all correspondence with the energy retailer.
If after reading this, you’re interested in learning more about Electricity Retailers and Energy Contracts, please visit the Ontario Energy Board's website.