COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program

Residential electricity and natural gas customers are eligible for CEAP if they meet all the following criteria:

• The customer has an account with an electricity distributor, a USMP or a natural gas distributor. Only the customer who is the account holder can submit an application for CEAP.
• The customer’s account was in good standing on March 17, 2020, and the customer was not enrolled in an arrears payment agreement for amounts owing prior to March 17, 2020. However, customers that enrolled in an arrears payment agreement for amounts that became owing after March 17, 2020, are eligible for CEAP.
• The customer failed to make complete payment for the electricity and/or gas charges (as applicable) on at least two bills issued since March 17, 2020, and has an overdue balance on the date of their application for CEAP.
• The customer or the customer’s spouse or common-law partner that resides in the same residence:
  • Is unemployed on the date of their application for CEAP; and
  • Has received Employment Insurance or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) since March 17, 2020

  The customer is required to confirm that this is the case on their CEAP application form.

• In the case of an electricity customer, the customer has not received emergency financial assistance for their electricity bills under the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) in 2020, and has not received funding under the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) in 2020.
• In the case of a natural gas customer, the customer has not received emergency financial assistance for their natural gas bills under LEAP in 2020.

CEAP funding is limited, and utilities and USMPs are expected to process applications in the order in which they are received. Submitting an application for CEAP to your utility or USMP does not guarantee funding.

Electricity Customers 
Eligible electricity customers may qualify for a one-time CEAP credit for half of the electricity charges that are overdue on the date of their application for CEAP, up to a maximum of $115.

The CEAP credit can be higher for eligible electricity customers if

• their home is mainly heated by electricity; or
• they use one of three specific at-home energy-intensive medical devices: kidney dialysis, mechanical ventilator or oxygen concentrator.

In that case, they may qualify for a one-time CEAP credit for half of the electricity charges that are overdue on the date of their application, up to a maximum of $230. The CEAP application form requires that customers confirm whether they meet either of these two conditions.

Natural Gas Customers
The maximum CEAP credit for eligible natural gas customers depends on where they live:

• Eligible natural gas customers in Northern Ontario may qualify for a one-time CEAP credit for half of the natural gas charges that are overdue on the date of their application for CEAP, up to a maximum of $160 (Northern Ontario is defined as Enbridge’s Union Gas North West or North East rate zones).
• Eligible natural gas customers elsewhere in the province may qualify for a one-time CEAP credit for half of the natural gas charges that are overdue on the date of their application for CEAP, up to a maximum of $80.

You must apply through your utility or USMP. Contact us directly about ways to apply.

Utilities and USMPs are expected to process complete applications within 10 business days of receipt.

CEAP funding is limited, and utilities and USMPs are expected to process applications in the order in which they are received. Submitting an application for CEAP to your utility or USMP does not guarantee funding.

COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) Application Forms:
Click the application form link below, and select “Save page as” to save to your computer. The application form must be submitted to your utility or USMP, and not to the OEB. Contact your utility or USMP to find out what options are available for submitting the application form.