What Happens Once My Energy Contract Ends? (Ontario)

You've been on a contract with an energy marketer for your energy supply, and your contract is near the end of it's term. What next?

Renewal/Extension package:

Two to four months (60 - 120 days) before your contract ends, your energy supplier will send you a package for renewing or extending your existing contract. This extension package must include:

• A copy of the renewed/extended contract If you entered into your contract before January 1st 2011, the renewed/extended contract must include new rights allowing you to cancel the renewed/extended contract without penalty. These rights will already be a part of your contract if you entered into after January 1st 2014.
• Two copies each of the Disclosure Statement and Price Comparison Sheet as approved by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). If your contract applies to both your electricity and gas there must be two copies of these documents for both fuels.
• Two copies of an extension or renewal form. This form must include clear description of the changes to the contract for every renewal or extension offer, a description of the actions you are to take should you want to renew or extend, a clear statement about automatic renewal (if it is being offered to you), and a place for you to sign if you do not want to renew or extend your contract

Automatic Renewal

It is possible for your energy contract to be automatically renewed for up to one year under the following conditions:

• Your contract is for natural gas. Electricity contracts may not be automatically renewed.
• Your contract includes the possibility of an automatic renewal/extension
• Your contract has not already been renewed/extended
• Your new contract price is not more than the contract price immediately before the renewal/extension

Once you have received your renewal/extension package, it is up to you to decide whether or not you wish to renew/extend your contract.

I want to renew/extend my contract, what do I do?

If you wish to continue with your energy marketer you must clearly mark the renewal/extension option that you have chosen, sign one copy each of the renewal/extension form, the Disclosure Statement, and the Price Comparison forms, and send them back to the energy marketer. You may also do this by email, through the energy marketer's website, or by telephone.

If your energy marketer calls you to confirm if you wish to renew/extend your contract, they must use statements required by an OEB-approved script, and record the phone call. They must be able to send you that recording within 10 days of you asking for it.

If you change your mind about renewing/extending your contract, you have up to 14 days to retract the renewed/extended contract with no penalty. This can be done either in writing or over the phone. If you retract your renewal/confirmation over the phone, your phonecall must be recorded, and you must receive written confirmation. The energy marketer must be able to send a copy of the recording within 10 days of you asking for it.

What if I don't want to renew/extend my contract?

While electricity contracts cannot be automatically renewed, natural gas contracts can be automatically renewed if you do not respond to the renewal/extension package sent to you. You should notify your energy retailer in a timely manner if you do not wish to renew/extend your contract. This you can do by signing the appropriate spot in the renewal package, over the phone, or through the website of your energy marketer.