How to Apply for Healthy Smiles Ontario
Healthy Smiles Ontario gives free dental care to children and youth 17 and under from low-income households: check automatic enrolment first, then enrol online or by mail to Oshawa.
How to Apply for the Ontario Electricity Support Program
The Ontario Electricity Support Program puts a monthly credit of 35 to 75 dollars directly on the electricity bills of lower-income Ontario households, and you apply online, by mail, or through a local intake agency.
Applies in: Ontario
The short answer
The Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) puts a monthly credit directly on the electricity bills of lower-income Ontario households. The Ontario Energy Board runs it. The amount depends on two things: how many people live in the home, and the combined annual household after-tax income. Most households get $35 to $75 a month. Some get $52 to $113 a month. You must apply — the credit is not automatic.
Apply online at OESP.ca, by mail, or through a local intake agency. The Canada Revenue Agency needs your consent to verify your income, so every route includes a consent form. You hear whether you qualify about 4 to 6 weeks after your completed application and signed consent forms are received and reviewed. If approved, the credit appears on your electricity bill in about 6 to 8 weeks.
What support is available
The amount of the credit depends on two factors: how many people live in the home, and the combined annual household after-tax income. It is not based on the size of your electricity bill. For example, a home with 4 people and an annual income of $65,000 receives an on-bill credit of $40 each month.
The credit amounts are:
| Level of household income ($) | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38,000 or less | $45 | $45 | $51 | $57 | $63 | $75 | $75 |
| 38,001 – 54,000 | $40 | $45 | $51 | $57 | $63 | $75 | |
| 54,001 – 65,000 | $35 | $40 | $45 | $51 | $57 | ||
| 65,001 – 71,000 | $35 | $40 | $45 |
Some households may receive higher monthly credits of between $52 and $113, based on unique eligibility that includes:
- Indigenous customers or customers living with Indigenous family members;
- customers using electric heating; and
- customers using certain electricity-intensive medical devices.
The higher credit, by household size and income, is:
| Level of household income ($) | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38,000 or less | $68 | $68 | $75 | $83 | $90 | $113 | $113 |
| 38,001 – 54,000 | $60 | $68 | $75 | $83 | $90 | $113 | |
| 54,001 – 65,000 | $52 | $60 | $68 | $75 | $83 | ||
| 65,001 – 71,000 | $52 | $60 | $68 |
The medical devices that count are the electricity-intensive ones — the program names a kidney dialysis machine, a mechanical ventilator, and an oxygen concentrator as examples.
Do you qualify?
If you are the customer of an electricity utility and your household size and income meet the program levels, you may qualify for a reduction on your electricity bill through OESP. It is also available to people living in condominiums or apartments, including multi-unit buildings and sometimes townhomes, where each unit has an individual meter and the resident's electricity bill comes from a company other than their utility — a Unit Sub-Meter Provider.
Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients automatically qualify for OESP and must contact their caseworker to apply.
If you qualify for OESP, you may also be able to apply for emergency financial assistance grants through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). LEAP is for qualified low-income electricity and natural gas customers. A LEAP emergency grant pays up to $650 of the amount owing on your bill, or up to $780 if your home uses electric heat.
Step 1: Gather information
Before you apply, have these ready:
- your electricity bill;
- names and birthdates of all the residents in your home as registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); and
- Social Insurance Numbers (SINs) or temporary tax numbers for all household members who are 18 and older.
If you have not recently filed an income tax return, or if your situation has changed since you last filed, you can apply for OESP through an intake agency. Bring all of the documents above, plus proof of your household income, and call the agency first to make an appointment.
Step 2: Complete the application
There are three ways to apply: online, by mail, or through an intake agency.
- Online. Apply now at OESP.ca. This is the fastest way to apply. Then, either complete the electronic consent form or print and sign a paper consent form and mail it to the address provided on the website. The CRA needs your consent to verify your income.
- By mail. Complete the application and sign the consent forms (the CRA needs your consent to verify your income). Mail them back to the address on the OESP website. You can download the documents from OESP.ca or call 1-855-831-8151 to have an application form mailed to you.
- Through an intake agency. Contact a designated intake agency near you if you would like help with your application. There is no cost for this service. Find an agency near you through the OESP website.
Step 3: What happens after you apply
You will hear whether you qualify for OESP about 4 to 6 weeks after your completed application and signed consent forms have been received and reviewed. If approved, the credit appears directly on your electricity bill in about 6 to 8 weeks.
You receive OESP credits on your bill for 2 years before having to reapply, or 5 years if you are aged 65 or older or receiving a CPP disability pension.
If you already receive OESP, your monthly credit may increase because of the new household income amounts, but you must reapply to get the increase.
Rules that protect low-income customers
Electricity utilities, unit sub-meter providers, and rate-regulated natural gas utilities follow customer service rules specific to low-income customers. These include waiving security deposits and allowing longer payment times under arrears payment plans. Ask your utility what applies to your account.
Questions about the program
The Ontario Energy Board administers the program while the Ministry of Energy provides financial and program oversight. Phone: 1-855-831-8151. TTY: 1-800-855-1155. Email: help@OntarioElectricitySupport.ca. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mailing address: Ontario Electricity Support Program, PO Box 1540, Station B, Ottawa, ON, K1P 0C7.
What the opened pages do not state
The Ontario Energy Board page opened for this guide does not publish a full list of the electricity-intensive medical devices that count, so this guide names only the three examples the program publishes — a kidney dialysis machine, a mechanical ventilator, and an oxygen concentrator. The page does not state a processing time for applications made through an intake agency separately from the 4 to 6 week figure, so this guide gives one figure for all routes. This guide gives no advice on whether you qualify — that is the program's decision when it assesses your application and the CRA verifies your income.
Related guides:
- How to Apply for Ontario Works in Ontario — Ontario Works recipients automatically qualify for OESP and apply through their caseworker.
- How to Apply for ODSP in Ontario — Ontario Disability Support Program recipients automatically qualify for OESP and apply through their caseworker.
- How to Apply for the Ontario Trillium Benefit — the provincial benefit that includes the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, another form of bill help for Ontario households.
- How to Start Lowering Your Heating and Electricity Bills in Canada — ways to cut the bill itself, alongside the OESP credit.
Applying for the Ontario Electricity Support Program, in five steps
- Check household size and incomeThe credit depends on how many people live in the home and the combined annual household after-tax income, not on the size of the electricity bill.
- Gather your bill and household detailsYour electricity bill, the names and birthdates of everyone in the home as registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, and Social Insurance Numbers or temporary tax numbers for everyone 18 and older.
- Apply online, by mail, or through an intake agencyOnline at OESP.ca is the fastest way. By mail, download the forms from OESP.ca or call 1-855-831-8151 to have one mailed to you. Intake agencies help for free.
- Sign the consent formThe Canada Revenue Agency needs your consent to verify your income. Complete the electronic consent form online, or print, sign, and mail a paper one.
- Wait for the decision and watch your billYou hear whether you qualify about 4 to 6 weeks after your completed application and signed consent forms are received. If approved, the credit appears on your bill in about 6 to 8 weeks.
Questions people ask
How much is the Ontario Electricity Support Program credit?
Most households get a monthly credit of 35 to 75 dollars, depending on household size and combined after-tax income. For example, a home with 4 people and an annual income of 65,000 dollars receives a credit of 40 dollars each month. Some households get a higher credit of 52 to 113 dollars a month, including Indigenous customers, customers using electric heating, and customers using certain electricity-intensive medical devices.
Who qualifies for the Ontario Electricity Support Program?
You must be the customer of an electricity utility and your household size and income must meet the program levels. A single person with an after-tax income of 38,000 dollars or less qualifies, and the income limit rises with household size up to 71,000 dollars for larger households. People in condominiums or apartments can also qualify where each unit has an individual meter and the bill comes from a Unit Sub-Meter Provider. Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients automatically qualify and must contact their caseworker to apply.
How do I apply for the Ontario Electricity Support Program?
There are three ways to apply: online, by mail, or through an intake agency. Online is the fastest way: apply at OESP.ca, then complete the electronic consent form or print and sign a paper consent form and mail it to the address on the website. By mail, complete the application and sign the consent forms, then mail them back to the address on the OESP website. You can download the documents from OESP.ca or call 1-855-831-8151 to have an application form mailed to you. Through an intake agency, contact a designated agency near you for free help with your application.
Do I need to file a tax return to apply?
The Canada Revenue Agency needs your consent to verify your income, and you sign a consent form as part of the application. If you have not recently filed an income tax return, or if your situation has changed since you last filed, apply through an intake agency. Bring all the documents listed in this guide, plus proof of your household income, and call the agency first to make an appointment.
How long does the Ontario Electricity Support Program last?
You receive OESP credits on your bill for 2 years before having to reapply, or 5 years if you are aged 65 or older or receiving a CPP disability pension. If you already receive OESP, your monthly credit may increase because of the new household income amounts, but you must reapply to get the increase.
Is the credit a cheque or a payment to me?
No. The credit is applied directly to your electricity bill each month. It is not a cheque, a refund, or a deposit to your bank account. Once approved, the amount appears automatically on your statement each month until you have to reapply.
Sources
- Ontario Energy Board, Ontario Electricity Support Program — the program description, the credit amounts table, the $52 to $113 higher band and the groups that receive it, the three application routes, the consent form requirement, the 4 to 6 week decision and 6 to 8 week first credit, the 2-year and 5-year renewal periods, the Ontario Works and ODSP automatic qualification rule, the LEAP note, and the program contact details.
- Hydro One, Low-Income Energy Assistance Program — the energy-intensive OESP credit table by household size and income, the LEAP emergency grant of up to $650 (up to $780 with electric heat), and the note that the income levels are set by the Ontario Energy Board.