Energy questions, answered
Plain-language answers about Ontario electricity rates, heat pumps, solar and batteries, EV charging, the power grid and net zero, with sources for every figure.
29 answered topics7 categoriesUpdated September 13, 2026
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- Which Ontario electricity price plan is best: time-of-use, tiered or ultra-low overnight?
Compare Ontario's three regulated electricity price plans, their current prices and hours, and which kinds of homes each plan tends to suit.
- What is Ontario's Ultra-Low Overnight electricity rate, and should I switch?
Ontario's Ultra-Low Overnight plan charges 3.9 cents per kWh from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. but 39.1 cents on weekday evenings. Here's who comes out ahead.
- What is the Global Adjustment on my Ontario electricity bill?
The Global Adjustment pays Ontario generators the gap between market prices and their contract prices. Here's how it works and how much it has grown.
- What is the Ontario Electricity Rebate and how much does it save?
The Ontario Electricity Rebate covers 23.5% of household electricity bills. Here's how much it saves, how it has changed and what it costs the province.
- What changed on Ontario electricity bills on November 1, 2025?
New time-of-use, tiered and Ultra-Low Overnight prices and a 23.5% Ontario Electricity Rebate took effect November 1, 2025. The numbers, explained.
- Do heat pumps work in Canadian winters?
How air-source heat pumps perform in cold weather, what their efficiency looks like below freezing and why most homes plan for backup heat.
- What is a hybrid heating system (heat pump plus furnace)?
A hybrid system pairs an air-source heat pump with a furnace that takes over in extreme cold. How it works and what rebates apply in Ontario.
- How big should my heat pump be?
Heat pump sizing affects comfort, running cost and even your rebate. Why Natural Resources Canada recommends sizing for most of the season, not the coldest day.
- Air-source vs. ground-source heat pumps: which is better?
Compare air-source and ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps on winter performance, savings and Ontario rebates.
- How do I maintain a heat pump?
Simple heat pump maintenance homeowners can do, what a professional service covers, and winter tips for outdoor units.
- How does net metering work in Ontario?
Ontario's net metering program credits homes for renewable electricity sent to the grid. How credits work, what they cover and when they expire.
- Are there rebates for solar panels in Ontario?
Ontario's Home Renovation Savings program offers up to $5,000 for solar panels and up to $5,000 more for battery storage. The rules, explained.
- Should I add a battery to my solar panels?
When a home battery pays off in Ontario: storing solar, shifting use to avoid on-peak prices, backup power and rebates.
- How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle at home in Ontario?
Home EV charging costs in Ontario on time-of-use, tiered and Ultra-Low Overnight pricing, with a worked example.
- Is there a federal rebate for electric vehicles in 2026?
Canada's EV Affordability Program: up to $5,000 for battery-electric vehicles in 2026, eligibility rules and the new EV sales targets.
- Do home EV chargers qualify for rebates in Ontario?
Home EV chargers aren't a listed upgrade in Ontario's Home Renovation Savings program. What does qualify, and what to check before installing.
- Is Ontario running out of electricity?
Ontario's grid operator forecasts growing supply needs from 2032. The numbers, the causes and how the province plans to meet demand.
- What's happening at the Pickering nuclear station?
Pickering's older units retired in 2024 and the remaining four came offline in September 2026 for a $26.8 billion refurbishment. The timeline.
- What are small modular reactors, and is Ontario building them?
Ontario is building four BWRX-300 small modular reactors at Darlington, with the first planned by the end of 2030. What they are and why they matter.
- Why is Ontario using more natural gas to make electricity?
Natural gas has grown in Ontario's electricity mix while nuclear units are refurbished. The numbers and what's planned for 2050.
- What does net zero by 2050 mean for Canadian homes?
Canada's net zero goal will change how homes are heated, how cars are fuelled and where electricity comes from. What to expect.
- Is Canada phasing out oil heating?
Canada plans to phase out oil heating in new buildings from 2028. What that means for existing homes and the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program.
- What are Canada's Clean Electricity Regulations?
Canada's Clean Electricity Regulations set emissions limits for power generation from 2035 and a net-zero grid by 2050. How they work and Ontario's view.
- What are Toronto's and Ottawa's net zero plans?
Toronto targets net zero by 2040 and Ottawa by 2050. The targets, milestones and what they mean for buildings and homes.
- What is an EnerGuide home energy evaluation?
What happens during an EnerGuide home energy evaluation, including the blower door test, the rating and report, and how it connects to Ontario rebates.
- What is Peak Perks, and is it worth joining?
Save on Energy's Peak Perks pays $75 to enrol a smart thermostat and $20 a year. How events work, eligible thermostats and how to opt out.
- Do I need a home energy assessment to get rebates in Ontario?
Which Home Renovation Savings rebates need a home energy assessment and which don't, plus the program caps by heating fuel.
- What should I know before installing a heat pump?
Airflow, ductwork, electrical service and cost: what Natural Resources Canada says to plan for before an air-source heat pump is installed.
- Where can I learn more about heat pumps? Videos and tools
Free Natural Resources Canada videos and tools on how heat pumps work in Canada, and how they're sized and installed in real homes.
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- Where can I learn more about heat pumps? Videos and tools
Free Natural Resources Canada videos and tools on how heat pumps work in Canada, and how they're sized and installed in real homes.
- What should I know before installing a heat pump?
Airflow, ductwork, electrical service and cost: what Natural Resources Canada says to plan for before an air-source heat pump is installed.
- Do I need a home energy assessment to get rebates in Ontario?
Which Home Renovation Savings rebates need a home energy assessment and which don't, plus the program caps by heating fuel.
- What is Peak Perks, and is it worth joining?
Save on Energy's Peak Perks pays $75 to enrol a smart thermostat and $20 a year. How events work, eligible thermostats and how to opt out.
- What is an EnerGuide home energy evaluation?
What happens during an EnerGuide home energy evaluation, including the blower door test, the rating and report, and how it connects to Ontario rebates.
- What are Toronto's and Ottawa's net zero plans?
Toronto targets net zero by 2040 and Ottawa by 2050. The targets, milestones and what they mean for buildings and homes.
- What are Canada's Clean Electricity Regulations?
Canada's Clean Electricity Regulations set emissions limits for power generation from 2035 and a net-zero grid by 2050. How they work and Ontario's view.
- Is Canada phasing out oil heating?
Canada plans to phase out oil heating in new buildings from 2028. What that means for existing homes and the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program.
- What does net zero by 2050 mean for Canadian homes?
Canada's net zero goal will change how homes are heated, how cars are fuelled and where electricity comes from. What to expect.
- Why is Ontario using more natural gas to make electricity?
Natural gas has grown in Ontario's electricity mix while nuclear units are refurbished. The numbers and what's planned for 2050.
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Energy research articles
Longer reads on Ontario's supply gap, electricity prices, subsidies and net zero by 2050.
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