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Ontario Supports Those Struggling with Electricity Bills during COVID-19

News Release

New Initiatives Help Keep Rates Stable and Affordable, while Offering Greater Choice

Office of the Premier

TORONTO — The Ontario government announced that it will continue to support provincial electricity consumers by providing stability and greater customer choice, while helping those struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Details of the new programs were provided by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Bill Walker, Associate Minister of Energy.

Initiatives include:

  • $9 million for the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) to support consumers struggling to pay their energy bills during the pandemic. CEAP will provide one-time payments to consumers to help pay down any electricity bill debt incurred over the COVID‑19 period. Applications will be available through local utilities in the upcoming months;
  • $8 million for the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) to provide support to businesses struggling with bill payments as a result of the outbreak; and
  • An extension of the Ontario Energy Board’s winter disconnection ban until July 31, 2020 to ensure no one is disconnected from their natural gas or electricity service during these uncertain times.

In addition, the government recently announced that it will continue the suspension of time-of-use (TOU) electricity rates and, starting on June 1, 2020, customers will be billed based on a new fixed COVID-19 Recovery Rate of 12.8 cents per kilowatt hour.

“While we make progress to contain this deadly virus, we know people will need to stay home when possible and businesses will need ongoing support as we gradually and safely reopen the economy,” said Premier Ford. “Providing additional rate relief, flexibility and customer choice will help ensure everyone can recover from this extraordinary crisis and get back to a life that is as normal as possible.”

Starting June 1, 2020, the new COVID-19 Recovery Rate comes into effect for electricity customers who pay TOU rates. This fixed rate will apply to TOU customer bills 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing stability and certainty for consumers as the government restarts the economy and supports individuals and families who continue to spend more time at home.

The COVID-19 Recovery Rate will be in place until October 31, 2020, followed by a new customer choice initiative. Starting November 1, 2020, customers will be able to choose a plan that best suits their household and lifestyle with the option of either TOU electricity rates or tiered pricing, which will provide a set rate for electricity up to a certain level of consumption.

“We recognize that businesses and families are living with a great deal of uncertainty, and they need to know what they can expect when they open their electricity bills every month,” said Minister Rickford. “The new COVID-19 Recovery Rate will provide stability for Ontario electricity consumers, while we work to re-open our province and restart our economy.”

The government will continue to subsidize electricity bills by 31.8 per cent through the Ontario Electricity Rebate. The government is providing approximately $5.6 billion in 2020-21 as part of its existing electricity cost relief programs, to help ensure more affordable electricity bills for eligible residential, farm and small business consumers.

“With the financial hardships faced by so many in our province as a result of COVID-19, those struggling to pay their electricity bills need support,” said Minister Walker. “This program, in partnership with the Ontario Energy Board and local distribution companies, will support electricity consumers by keeping rates stable and affordable.”

Quick Facts

  • The new COVID-19 Recovery Rate is the Ontario Energy Board (OEB)’s Average Regulated Price Plan (RPP) Rate, which is based on the forecast average electricity supply cost for RPP consumers as of November 1, 2019, as published in the OEB’s most recent RPP Price Report.
  • Time-of-use (TOU) electricity rates vary by time of day and are comprised of three different rate periods of off-peak, mid-peak and on-peak pricing.
  • Tiered electricity rates provide customers with a set rate for electricity up to a certain level of consumption. The rate increases for all electricity use that exceeds this threshold.
  • The OEB sets both tiered and TOU rates as part of the RPP.
  • There are approximately five million residential consumers, farms and some small businesses billed using TOU electricity prices under the RPP.

Additional Resources

  • Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19
  • Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
  • Additional supports for Ontario electricity consumers include the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) and the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP).
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Support for ALL Small Business Tenants and Landlords Now Available

All commercial landlords in Ontario can now apply for rental assistance to help their small business tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Please follow the link below to see if you are now eligible to apply.

News Release

Ontario commercial landlords can apply for urgent rent assistance through Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small businesses

 

Ministry of Finance

TORONTO — All commercial landlords in Ontario can now apply for rental assistance to help their small business tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative will keep more small businesses in operation and more people employed as the province gradually and safely restarts the economy.

The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, has launched the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. The province is committing $241 million to the program, which will provide more than $900 million in support for small businesses across Ontario during this difficult time.  To find out how much rent support you may be eligible for, visit Ontario.ca/rentassistance.

“We know that some of the necessary measures put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 have created significant financial hardships for small businesses,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance. “That’s why we’ve partnered with the federal government to deliver urgent rent assistance and help both small businesses and commercial landlords make ends meet. I encourage all commercial landlords to take advantage of this benefit as soon as possible in order to provide some certainty for our small businesses.”

The CECRA for small businesses, administered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), provides forgivable loans to eligible commercial landlords to help cover 50 per cent of commercial rent for tenants for the months of April, May and June 2020. The tenant will be responsible for covering up to 25 per cent of rent, so that up to 75 per cent of the rent is covered.

To receive the forgivable loan, eligible commercial landlords will be required to enter into a rent reduction agreement with their impacted small business tenants for April to June 2020, which includes committing to a moratorium on evictions for three months.

“As Ontario’s economy gradually reopens, we will continue to work with our federal partners to ensure people and businesses across the province get the support they desperately need. We want to do everything we can to ensure our small businesses are able and ready to reopen their doors when the time is right,” said Phillips.

To learn more and apply for the CECRA for small businesses, visit the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) application portal. 

Quick Facts

  • The CECRA for small businesses is administered by the CMHC and will be available until August 31, 2020. Support will be retroactive to April 1, covering April, May and June 2020.
  • The CECRA for small businesses has been developed to share the cost of rent between small business tenants, landlords and the governments of Ontario and Canada. Small business landlords would be asked to forgive at least 25 per cent of the tenant’s total rent, tenants would be asked to pay up to 25 per cent of rent and the provincial and federal government would share the cost of the remaining 50 per cent.
  • Partnering with the federal government to deliver rent assistance builds on the government’s actions to support small businesses during COVID-19. As part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19, the first phase of the government’s response, the province has implemented $10 billion in cash flow supports to help support jobs and businesses through tax and other deferrals.

Additional Resources

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Updates from Westport Town Hall

On Wednesday, May 27 at a Special Council meeting, Council approved Greer Galloway, our Engineering consultant, to proceed with issuing the RFP for the reconstruction of Bedford St.  The proposed schedule begins the work from Concession St to George St after July 1 and from George St to Main St after August 1.  Construction will continue until October/November depending on weather.  Bedford St will generally be open to traffic throughout the construction and there will be access to businesses and residents’ driveways.

On April 2, 2020, I declared an Emergency that remains in effect.  However two of the orders made under that declaration are not being extended.

Emergency Order #1 will not be extended.  Effective June 1, 2020 garbage bag tags/Westport garbage bags will be required for solid waste pick up.

Emergency Order #2 will not be extended.  Effective Wednesday, June 3, Westport Town Hall will reopen to the public for mornings only until further notice.  One person at a time will be admitted to Town Hall.  The staff area of Town Hall has plastic sneeze guards installed, so you will notice a slightly different look should you find it necessary to come to the office.

Please call if you have any concerns or questions.  273-9195COVID Town Hall 

 

 

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Emergency Orders Extended until June 9th, 2020

Emergency Orders Extended to June 9th

The Ontario government is extending all emergency orders in force under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Current emergency orders include the closure of outdoor playgrounds, play structures and equipment, public swimming pools and outdoor water facilities, as well as bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery.  Additionally, there continues to be restrictions on social gatherings of more than five people, and staff redeployment rules remain in place for long-term care homes and congregate settings like retirement homes and women’s shelters.

Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, emergency orders can only be extended for up to 14 days by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Cabinet) or the Legislative Assembly, on the recommendation of the Premier may, by resolution, extend the period of an emergency for additional periods of no more than 28 days.