Advertisement

More than 8 per cent of Ontario households are behind on their electricity bills

Hydro towers are seen over a golf course in Toronto on Wednesday, November 4, 2015.
Hydro towers are seen over a golf course in Toronto on Wednesday, November 4, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

TORONTO — More than eight per cent of Ontario households were in arrears with their electricity bills at the end of 2015, owing more than $172.5 million.

The Ontario Energy Board reports 566,902 homes were in arrears last year, 263 fewer customers than were behind in their electricity bills at the end of 2014.

READ MORE: Hydro horror stories: tales from rural Ontario

The board says any account that is 30 or more days past the 16-day minimum payment period is considered to be in arrears.

Hydro One Networks, the electricity distribution arm of Ontario’s giant transmission utility, was owed $105,583,215 by 225,952 customers who were in arrears, which is up more than 1,750 households from 2014.

READ MORE: Sky-high hydro rates an ‘absolute crisis’ for rural Ontario

Toronto Hydro had the second largest number of clients in arrears, with 60,528 households owing $13,194,511 last year.

Story continues below advertisement

The Ministry of Energy says there are about 4.6 million residential electricity customers, or households, in Ontario.

Sponsored content

AdChoices