ONTARIO—The Ontario Energy Board estimates that 550,000 Ontario households are eligible for enrollment in the Ontario Electricity Support Program and a 10 percent reduction in their Hydro One bill, and announce that they are pleased that there have been 132,940 applications to the program to date.
“The Ontario Energy Board is very pleased with the response,” said spokesperson Karen Evans, director, corporate communications, in an email response to questions from The Expositor. “In the first 100 days of the program, we received approximately 1,000 applications per day.”
Ms. Evans went on to explain that the Ontario Energy Board (which is responsible for handling the program) “expect between 300,000-340,000 consumers to enroll by year-end 2016. We are already more than one third of the way there after just four months.”
While the response to the program remains far short of the number who are believed eligible for the program, the OEB considers the numbers to be positive.
“We believe the application performance is very good and there are a number of reasons for this,” said Ms. Evans. “We have done a great deal to communicate the program to consumers through agencies, utilities and other government offices. The communications plan (started November 1, 2015) included print, radio and transit advertising. Additionally, bill inserts were included in all ODSP and Ontario Works cheques twice and with electricity utility bills and websites. We have also engaged online through social media, targeted digital advertising and created a ‘how-to’ video for YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP7C4my8Ym0). We are continuing to work with social service agencies, food banks, libraries, MPP offices, the Ontario Native Welfare Administrators Association, legal aid offices, senior living centres and others to ensure that eligible Ontarians are aware of this program.”
Apparently the campaign has had some success. Ms. Evans notes that “our research shows that 41 percent of Ontarians are aware of the OESP (as of January 2016). At the time of this research the program had been in market just two months.” But when one considers the positive impact a reduced Hydro One bill would have for those whose incomes qualify, the uptake is still puzzlingly low.
Ms. Evans notes that efforts to expand the number enrolled have continued unabated. “We have contracted with more than 120 agencies in 172 locations across Ontario to help consumers apply in-person,” she said. “This is especially helpful for those without computer access, those who prefer to apply on-paper and for those who may not have filed income taxes recently. Consumers are encouraged to contact one of these agencies if they need application assistance. For a list of agencies, customers can visit the application portal or give us a call – OntarioElectricitySupport.ca or 1-855-831-8151.
Ms. Evans asserted that “we have designed the online application process to be user friendly and it seems to be working for most consumers. We do have a rigorous approval process so it is necessary for consumers to fully complete their applications and ensure that the information they enter matches their income documentation and utility bills exactly. Sometimes, customers will be notified that we are unable to advance their application because their information is incomplete or doesn’t match their documents. At this point customers can call us to verify and correct their application information or they can contact an intake agency nearest to them.”
The Manitoulin Sudbury District Services Board (DSB) has been firing on all cylinders in an effort to get all their clients (Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients’ income falls well below the threshold for the program), notes DSB CAO Fern Dominelli. “We have 96 applicants,” he noted. “Of those, 83 are on social assistance.”
Despite all efforts (including hosting workshops and walk-in clinics before Christmas for those needing help with the application), Mr. Dominelli admits the response “hasn’t been great.”
On the bright side, the CAO notes that a number of those who have been approved have been entered into the program for a five-year period, meaning they do not have to reapply every year or two (which is more the norm).
Once approved, the amount of credit an applicant can receive depends on how many people live in the home and the combined household income. The OESP website gives the example of a home with four people and an annual income of $37,000 who would receive an on-bill credit of $34 each month. The website goes on to explain that if your home is electrically heated, or you rely on medical devices requiring a lot of power, OESP offers a higher level of assistance. First Nations and Métis also qualify for a higher level of assistance.
There are a number of caveats, however. The program is not retroactive and it takes several weeks for the application to be approved.
When making an application, make sure you have your electricity bill, the names and birthdates of all the residents in your home as registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, and Social Insurance Numbers (SINs), individual tax numbers or temporary taxation numbers for residents over the age of 16.
If you are found eligible, the credit will appear directly on your electricity bill in about six to eight weeks from the date of approval. You will receive OESP for two years before having to reapply.
But if you have not filed an income tax return recently, or if your situation has changed since you last filed, you can apply for OESP through a local intake agency (such as DSB). You will need to bring all of the documents listed above, plus proof of your household income.
The application can be found online at ontarioelectricitysupport.ca, and if you are unable to access the Internet yourself, or have issues in working with computers and or literacy, contact your local DSB office to access support. The Little Current office is located at 9050 Hwy 6, Unit D, Little Current, P0P 1K0, 1 (800) 667-3145 or by email shps@msdsb.net.
