Consumers who pay the wholesale price for electricity may prefer to pay a fixed price for the
energy they consume. This gives businesses, who may well pass their costs on to their customers,
the satisfaction of knowing what they are paying from one month to the next.
Electricity Retailers, licensed by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), offer short or long term contracts
that provide consumers with the peace of mind in knowing that their costs are fixed over a predetermined
period of time, no matter how prices may change.
Customers with an interval meter can also take advantage of fixed prices by choosing a contract that
offers a set price over a certain block of kilowatt hours.
There are a variety of retail contracts offered on the market today. If you are considering signing a
contract, be sure to study your options carefully and read through all of the terms and conditions
before signing. Knowing how much electricity you use and at what time of day you use it, will help you
determine what kind of retail contract might be right for you.
NOTE: Retail contracts offer fixed prices on the cost of the electricity only and do not cover other
costs such as the delivery charges, which are billed by Hydro One Brampton.
Be sure to ask the following questions:
Does the retailer have a license from the Ontario Energy Board?
What is the length of the contract and is there a penalty for canceling it?
What is the price per kilowatt hour being offered?
Who gets any possible rebates?
Are there any additional charges?
What if I Have a Complaint?
All retailers must follow the Electricity Retailers
Code of Conduct that establishes guidelines and standards. When retailing door-to-door, retailers'
salespeople are required to carry photo identification, to indicate that any local offer is not being made by
Hydro One Brampton, to clearly state the price and other terms, and to provide a clearly printed contract.
Consumers who wish to make a complaint about an electricity retailer should note the salesperson's name,
company, and the time/date of visit and should contact the Ontario Energy Board at 416-314-2455.
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