How Ontario splits the energy market
Ontario is a hybrid market, not a Crown monopoly like Quebec and not fully deregulated like Alberta. The wholesale electricity market is run competitively by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) through hourly bids; the wires that deliver power to your address are regulated monopoly distributors licensed by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). The OEB also sets the default residential rate, called the Regulated Price Plan (RPP), every six months. Underneath the RPP sits an optional retail layer: licensed retailers may offer fixed-rate contracts that replace only the commodity portion of the bill.
Natural gas works the same way: two OEB-licensed distributors own the pipes and bill you, the commodity rate is updated quarterly via the Quarterly Rate Adjustment Mechanism (QRAM), and a small Direct Purchase market sits beside it.
Hydro One Networks plus large urban utilities (Toronto Hydro, Alectra, Hydro Ottawa, London Hydro) and dozens of smaller municipal, cooperative and First Nations distributors. Your distributor is fixed by your address.
Enbridge Gas Inc. serves about 3.8 million customers across the GTA, Ottawa, Niagara, southwestern and central Ontario. EPCOR Natural Gas LP serves a small Elgin County franchise around Aylmer, Bayham and Malahide.
Largest electricity LDCs
See all 58A preview of six of the largest LDCs by customer count. The full directory of all 58 OEB-licensed distributors lives on the electricity sub-hub.
Natural gas distributors (2)
Two OEB-licensed distributors own the gas pipes in Ontario. Your franchise is fixed by your address; you cannot switch between them.
Investor-owned natural gas distributor
Investor-owned natural gas distributor (subsidiary of EPCOR Utilities Inc.)
I smell gas
Leave the building immediately. Do not operate light switches, electrical appliances or anything that could spark. From a safe location outside, call your gas utility's 24/7 emergency line. If you cannot reach the utility, dial 911.