Ontario Electricity Rates Drop Nov. 1: What Guelph Pays
Written by Ethan Crawford • Published October 20, 2026 • Last verified October 21, 2026
What you need to know:
The new OEB electricity prices take effect November 1, 2026, and run for 12 months through October 31, 2027.
Time-of-Use rates drop to 9.1c off-peak, 14.6c mid-peak, and 18.9c on-peak.
Tiered rates drop to 11.2c (first 1,000 kWh/mo in winter) and 13.2c above 1,000 kWh.
The Ontario Electricity Rebate adjusts to 15.7% (down from 23.5%), partially offsetting commodity savings.
Alectra bills electricity; City of Guelph bills water/wastewater; Enbridge bills natural gas.
Ontario's electricity commodity prices decrease on November 1, 2026, lowering per-kilowatt-hour charges for Guelph households and small businesses. Announced by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) on October 16, 2026, under the Regulated Price Plan (RPP), these new rates will remain in effect for a full 12-month period, running from November 1, 2026 through October 31, 2027.
While lower energy commodity charges are welcome news for residential budgets, understanding how Alectra Utilities bills electricity and how provincial rebates work clarifies why total monthly bills may not fall by the headline percentage.
New Electricity Rates and Seasonal Thresholds
The rate reductions apply across all three OEB residential pricing plans available to Guelph customers: 1. Time-of-Use (TOU) Rates: - Off-Peak (weekdays 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekends, and holidays): 9.1 cents/kWh (down from 9.8 cents). - Mid-Peak (weekdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.): 14.6 cents/kWh (down from 15.7 cents). - On-Peak (weekdays 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.): 18.9 cents/kWh (down from 20.3 cents). Note that on November 1, the daily hours for mid-peak and on-peak shift to the winter schedule (reflecting morning and evening heating loads) and remain on that schedule until April 30.
2. Tiered Pricing: - Tier 1: 11.2 cents/kWh for consumption up to the monthly threshold (down from 12.0 cents). - Tier 2: 13.2 cents/kWh for electricity used above the threshold (down from 14.2 cents). Importantly, the Tier 1 threshold expands from 600 kWh per month in summer to 1,000 kWh per month during winter (November 1 to April 30) to provide price relief for winter heating and lighting.
3. Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO): - Overnight (11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day): 3.2 cents/kWh (down from 3.5 cents), providing substantial savings for electric vehicle owners. - Weekend Off-Peak: 9.1 cents/kWh. - Mid-Peak: 14.6 cents/kWh. - On-Peak (weekdays 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.): 30.6 cents/kWh.
The Ontario Electricity Rebate Adjustment
While per-kilowatt-hour commodity rates drop, the province-funded Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) is also adjusting. Effective November 1, 2026, the OER will provide a 15.7 per cent credit on eligible pre-tax electricity charges, down from the previous 23.5 per cent level. Because the rebate is applied directly to bill subtotals, this provincial rebate adjustment partially offsets the decrease in base electricity commodity rates.
Separate Municipal Utility Billing in Guelph
Guelph residents should also keep billing boundaries clear. In June 2026, the City of Guelph assumed direct responsibility for municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater billing, which had previously been billed jointly through Alectra.
As a result, the November 1 electricity rate changes apply exclusively to your Alectra Utilities bill. Municipal water charges are governed separately by Guelph City Council, while natural gas heating continues to be supplied and billed independently by Enbridge Gas.
Sources
- Ontario Energy Board: OEB Announces Changes to Electricity Prices
- Ontario Energy Board: Regulated Price Plan Rates
- Alectra Utilities: Rates and Customer Service
- City of Guelph: Water Billing Transition Notice
Related Reading
- Guelph Utilities: Who Bills You for What in 2026
- Guelph Utilities: Who Bills You for What in 2026
- Guelph Utility Bills in 2026: Who Charges What
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