Industrial and commercial businesses

Relief for industrial and commercial businesses
On January 1, 2021, the Comprehensive Electricity Plan was introduced to reduce electricity prices for large and mid-sized industrial and commercial businesses through reduced Global Adjustment charges. Rates are lower because we are paying for a portion of non-hydro renewable energy contract costs.

Clean energy credit registry

The Ontario clean energy credit (CEC) registry enables businesses to voluntarily purchase and retire CECs from one or multiple solar, wind, bioenergy, nuclear, and hydroelectric generation facilities in Ontario. PurchasingCECs can help businesses meet their corporate environmental and sustainability goals and demonstrate that their electricity has been sourced from a non-emitting resource.

Industrial Conservation Initiative
The Industrial Conservation Initiative (ICI) program allows consumers with average monthly peak electricity demand over 1 megawatt (MW), as well as manufacturers and greenhouses over 500 kilowatts (kW), to reduce their electricity costs by reducing consumption during the top five peak hours of the year.

If you are a consumer with an average monthly peak demand above 5 MW, you are automatically enrolled. If you do not want to participate, you must opt out of the program by June 15.

If your average monthly peak demand is between 1 MW and 5 MW, or between 500 kW and 1 MW for manufacturers and greenhouses, contact your electricity distributor to see if you qualify and receive instructions on how to enroll. If you want to participate, you must opt in. Once enrolled, if you no longer want to participate, you must opt out of the program based on your distributor’s requirements.

Capacity auction
Eligible businesses can participate in the Independent Electricity System Operator’s annual capacity auctions to generate revenue.

Successful participants receive payments by making capacity available in the electricity system through generating, storing, importing, or reducing demand for electricity. Payments are based on the total cleared capacity and the applicable auction clearing price.

Capacity auction resource providers may also be eligible to participate in other market mechanisms, such as energy and operating reserves, as long as the applicable market rules are followed.

Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP)
NEAP provides a rebate of 2 cents per kWh for eligible mining, forestry and steel operations in Northern Ontario that use at least 50,000 MWh of electricity per year.

Small businesses, institutional buildings and some commercial spaces

Retrofit Program
Get incentives to retrofit your lighting (including controls), equipment (such as HVAC), automation and more.

Lighting for small businesses
Get a free lighting assessment and up to $2,000 in incentives for all types of businesses with 50 or fewer employees on site at any point in time.

Energy Manager Program
Get help identifying energy efficiency opportunities, developing energy management plans and completing Save on Energy incentive applications.

Energy Performance Program
Single-site and multi-site customers can get incentives for growing their energy savings over time, reducing operating costs and improving productivity.

Indigenous businesses

First Nations Community Buildings Retrofit Program
Band-owned commercial and institutional buildings can get up to $100,000 per community for eligible customized energy efficiency projects.

Other resources

Ontario Electricity Rebate
Small businesses and other consumers that use 250,000 kWh of electricity or less per year or whose demand is 50 kW or less, as well as farms, are eligible for the Ontario Electricity Rebate.

Effective November 1, 2023, the Ontario Electricity Rebate is providing eligible consumers with a 19.3% rebate from the province on the subtotal of their electricity bill.

Net metering
Get electricity from the electricity grid when you need it and receive credits on your utility bill for excess generation sent back to the grid.