Global Adjustment (GA) explained simply
This is one of the most confusing items in Ontario electricity pricing. You’re not alone.
Plain-language summary: Global Adjustment is a way Ontario recovers certain system costs.
It often doesn’t behave like a normal “you used X, so you pay Y” charge — which is why it surprises people.
Why it exists (the simple version)
Ontario’s electricity system has costs that don’t move up and down neatly with your household’s monthly usage. Global Adjustment is a mechanism used to recover those kinds of costs over time.
Why it feels confusing
- It’s not intuitive: People expect all charges to track their kWh closely. GA often doesn’t feel that way.
- It can fluctuate: It may change based on broader system and market conditions, not your household behavior alone.
- It’s hard to compare: Different months (and different rate structures) can make the same usage “feel” like a different bill.
Common misconceptions
- “GA is a penalty.” It’s better thought of as system cost recovery, not a punishment for your usage.
- “If I use less, GA should shrink proportionally.” Some parts of bills do; others don’t behave proportionally.
- “My utility controls GA.” Utilities bill it, but it is shaped by broader system rules and policy.
What you can do with this knowledge
Instead of chasing GA directly, focus on what’s usually controllable:
- Understand whether you’re on TOU or Tiered and how that affects your usage cost.
- Know that some of your bill is Delivery and doesn’t move linearly with usage.
- If your bill shocked you, use our checklist: Why your bill changed.
Note: This page explains the concept at a high level. Bills can differ by utility and rate class. This site does not provide individualized billing or financial advice.