How to Estimate Your Ontario Electricity Bill

Updated 2026‑04‑22

Ontario electricity bills can feel complicated, especially when you try to estimate your monthly cost before the bill arrives. Many households assume the bill is simply “electricity used × price,” but Ontario’s billing structure includes several additional components that influence the final total.

This guide walks through each part of an Ontario electricity bill in plain English and shows how to estimate your own monthly cost using realistic examples. Whether you’re budgeting, comparing pricing plans, or trying to understand why your bill changed, this step‑by‑step approach makes the process much clearer.

Tip: If you want a quick estimate without doing the math yourself, try the Ontario Electricity Bill Calculator.

1. Estimate your monthly electricity usage

Your electricity usage is measured in kilowatt‑hours (kWh). This is the foundation of your bill. Most Ontario homes fall into these ranges:

Small apartment: 300–500 kWh per month
Townhouse or small home: 600–900 kWh per month
Large detached home: 1,200–2,000+ kWh per month

If you’re unsure of your usage, check your most recent electricity bill. It will show the total kWh used during the billing period. If you’re estimating for a new home, use the ranges above as a starting point.

2. Estimate your energy charges

The energy portion of your bill depends on your pricing plan. Ontario households can choose from three regulated options:

Time‑of‑Use (TOU): prices vary by time of day
Tiered pricing: one rate up to a monthly threshold, a higher rate above it
Ultra‑Low Overnight (ULO): very low overnight prices with higher daytime rates

If you know your average electricity price per kWh, you can estimate your energy cost using:

Energy cost ≈ monthly kWh × electricity rate

Example:

750 kWh × $0.12/kWh ≈ $90

If you want to compare TOU, Tiered, and ULO plans, try the TOU vs Tiered vs ULO calculator.

3. Add delivery charges

Delivery charges pay for the infrastructure that brings electricity to your home — poles, wires, transformers, substations, and meter services. These charges are set by your local utility and approved by the Ontario Energy Board.

Delivery charges usually include:

A fixed monthly charge (varies by utility)
A variable charge based on your electricity usage

For many households, delivery charges fall between $35 and $60 per month, but the exact amount depends on your utility and usage.

For a deeper explanation, see Delivery Charges Explained.

4. Understand the Global Adjustment

The Global Adjustment (GA) covers long‑term electricity system costs, including:

generation contracts
regulated nuclear and hydro costs
conservation programs
capacity and reliability programs

GA is included in the regulated electricity rates paid by most households, so you won’t see it as a separate line item. However, it still affects your total bill because it is built into the price you pay per kWh.

Typical residential GA amounts often fall between $40 and $80 per month depending on system conditions.

For a plain‑English explanation, see Global Adjustment Explained.

5. Add HST

Ontario electricity bills include Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) at 13%. The tax applies to most components of the bill, including energy, delivery, and GA.

To estimate HST:

HST ≈ subtotal × 0.13

6. Example Ontario electricity bill estimate

Let’s estimate a typical bill for a household using 750 kWh per month.

Energy: $90
Delivery: $45
Global Adjustment (included in rates): $60

Subtotal: $195

HST (13%): ~$25

Estimated total monthly bill: about $220

This estimate will vary depending on your utility, pricing plan, and seasonal factors, but it provides a realistic starting point.

7. Why your electricity bill may change month to month

Even if your usage stays the same, your bill can still change. Common reasons include:

Seasonal demand: higher provincial demand can influence system costs
Rate adjustments: TOU, Tiered, and ULO prices are updated regularly
Delivery charge changes: utilities adjust rates periodically
Global Adjustment fluctuations: GA varies based on market conditions
Estimated meter readings: estimates can differ from actual usage

For a deeper explanation, see Why Your Bill Changed.

8. Use the calculators on this site

If you want a more precise estimate, try these tools:

These calculators let you test different usage levels, pricing plans, and scenarios to understand how your electricity bill may change.