What GrandBridge Energy actually does (and why your bill says "GrandBridge" at the top)

In Ontario, your local LDC almost always wears two hats. GrandBridge Energy is the distributor that owns the poles, transformers and meters across Brantford, Cambridge (Galt, Preston, Hespeler) and North Dumfries (St. George, Ayr, Branchton), AND it is your default supplier under Ontario's Standard Supply Service. The bill that arrives at your address covers both jobs.

The per-kWh rate GrandBridge charges most residential and small-business customers is the OEB's Regulated Price Plan (RPP), updated every six months. You can choose Time-of-Use, Tiered or Ultra-Low Overnight at any time by contacting customer service.

The wires + the default supply
GrandBridge Energy (both roles)
  • Owns the wires, transformers, smart meters across 3 municipalities
  • Restores power after outages (24/7 dispatch)
  • Sends the monthly bill at the OEB's RPP rate
  • Fixed by address: no choice of wires company
Alternative: licensed retailer
Long-term fixed-rate contract
  • Replaces the commodity portion of the bill only
  • Door-to-door sales banned (ECPA 2010)
  • Delivery + Global Adjustment + regulatory unchanged
  • GrandBridge still owns the wires and meter
A post-merger quirk worth knowing

For a few rate-application cycles after merger day, GrandBridge customers can still see references to the predecessor utilities (Brantford Power, Energy+ / Cambridge North Dumfries) on OEB filings and historical scorecards. The OEB groups data under the merged entity going forward, but if you are comparing 2024 numbers with 2019, you may need to add the two predecessor scorecards together to get a fair comparison.

Where GrandBridge Energy delivers power

In plain words: if your address is inside the City of Brantford, the City of Cambridge or the Township of North Dumfries, GrandBridge is your distributor. The boundary follows the historical Brantford Power and Energy+ territories exactly; the merger did not change the physical service area.

3 municipalities
Service area
Brantford, Cambridge, North Dumfries
109,000 +
Customer accounts
Residential + business
635 km²
Service area
Spread across the Grand River basin
2022
Year of merger
Brantford Power + Energy+
Covered by GrandBridge Energy
  • Brantford (whole city, including West Brant, Echo Place)
  • Cambridge: Galt, Preston, Hespeler
  • North Dumfries: St. George, Branchton, Ayr
  • Residential, commercial and industrial addresses across the merged service territory
NOT covered (use these instead)
  • Kitchener, Waterloo, Wilmot, Woolwich, WellesleyEnova Power
  • Guelph, Hamilton, Mississauga, VaughanAlectra Utilities
  • Six Nations of the Grand River → Six Nations of the Grand River Electrical Power Co.
  • Rural Brant County (outside Brantford) → Hydro One Networks
Communities inside GrandBridge Energy's territory
Brantford Cambridge (Galt, Preston, Hespeler) St. George Branchton Ayr

Not sure which one applies to your address? Check your most recent electricity bill: the distributor's name and OEB licence number are printed at the top of the first page.

How GrandBridge Energy's charges appear on your bill

An Ontario electricity bill is broken into a handful of distinct line items, all of which appear on the same GrandBridge invoice. Unlike Alberta, where the commodity is billed separately by your retailer, in Ontario almost every household sees a single integrated bill where GrandBridge acts as both the wires company and the OEB-default supplier.

Electricity (commodity)

The per-kWh rate set by the OEB twice a year in the Regulated Price Plan. You pick one of three structures: Time-of-Use, Tiered or Ultra-Low Overnight.

Global Adjustment

Funds the difference between the market price and the long-term contracts the IESO signed for nuclear, hydro, wind, solar and conservation. RPP customers see this rolled into the commodity rate.

Delivery

The cost of moving electricity from the IESO-controlled grid through GrandBridge's wires to your meter. Includes a fixed monthly service charge plus a per-kWh distribution rate set by the OEB.

Regulatory charges

Small line covering OEB programs and the Wholesale Market Service Rate. Set by the OEB and applied uniformly across Ontario LDCs.

Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER)

A provincial credit that reduces the pre-tax subtotal by a percentage set by the government (currently around 13 %). Applied automatically to eligible residential, farm and small-business accounts.

HST

The 13 % federal-provincial sales tax applied to the post-rebate subtotal. Cannot be avoided; appears at the bottom of the bill.

GrandBridge Energy's delivery rate is approved by the OEB through periodic rate applications. The 2022 merger was reviewed and approved under the OEB's MAADs (mergers, acquisitions, amalgamations and divestitures) policy, which assesses whether the combined entity delivers consumer benefits over a defined deferral period.

A practical implication: if a licensed retailer offers a low fixed per-kWh rate, you still pay the same GrandBridge delivery and regulatory charges, the same Global Adjustment, the same HST. Switching changes the commodity portion only.

Time-of-Use (TOU)

Peak (4-7pm), mid-peak, off-peak. Best for households that can shift heavy use to evenings and weekends.

Tiered

A low block for the first ~600 kWh per month (residential), a higher block above. Best for steady, modest users.

Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO)

Very cheap from 11pm to 7am, much more expensive 4-9pm. Best for EV owners.

Contact details: outage line + customer service

GrandBridge Energy runs a dedicated 24/7 outage info line (1-833-POWER-01) separately from its general toll-free customer service number. Outages are the only thing you call the first number for; the second handles billing, account changes, moves and new connections.

Cambridge HQ

39 Glebe Street
P.O. Box 1060
Cambridge, ON N1R 5X6

Text-to-report outages

Send a text to 1-888-726-1139

Online

Outage map + portal on grandbridgeenergy.com

For non-urgent questions you can also use GrandBridge's online tools: the outage map and the outage centre. Reports submitted by text can take up to 15 minutes to appear on the live map.

Report a power outage

If your power is out, the fastest path is to call 1-833-769-3701 (the 24/7 outage info line) or send a text to 1-888-726-1139. Live restoration estimates are published on the outage map.

How it works: from your call to power back on
1
You report it

Call 1-833-769-3701, text 1-888-726-1139, or use the online map. Have your address and account number ready.

2
Dispatch confirms

The system pinpoints which feeder, transformer or substation is affected and assigns a crew.

3
Crew restores

Single faults in urban Cambridge or Brantford typically clear within an hour; storm-wide events take longer.

4
Service back

Power is verified at the smart meter. Reset clocks, check freezer contents, and file any damage claim with GrandBridge.

Reliability in plain words

GrandBridge Energy reports its reliability performance annually to the OEB through the distributor scorecard. The headline metrics are SAIDI and SAIFI; the merger means that 2022-onward results are reported under the merged entity, while 2021-and-earlier data is split between Brantford Power and Energy+.

Planned outages for maintenance are normally posted at least 48 hours in advance on the outage centre. If you depend on medical equipment, register with GrandBridge's priority-notification programme.

New connection or service upgrade

For any new build, service upgrade (e.g. moving from 100 A to 200 A for an EV charger or heat pump), or temporary construction service inside Brantford, Cambridge or North Dumfries, you deal with GrandBridge Energy. Start at https://grandbridgeenergy.com or call 1-877-871-2215. Routine residential connections target the OEB's 5-business-day standard once all conditions are met.

What you'll need before applying
1
Site address

The civic address and legal description inside one of GrandBridge's three municipalities.

2
Site plan

A sketch showing where you want the meter, service entrance and run-back to the pole or pad-mounted transformer.

3
Service size

The amperage (100 A, 200 A, 400 A…) and voltage you need, signed off by your Master Electrician.

4
ESA permit + certification

An Electrical Safety Authority permit and ESA sign-off once the in-house wiring is done.

Lead time
5 business days (standard)

For routine residential connections once all conditions are met.

Fees
OEB-approved tariff

Fixed component + per-metre charge above the contribution threshold defined in GrandBridge's Conditions of Service.

Once the wires are in, your account opens automatically under Standard Supply Service at the OEB's Regulated Price Plan rate. You can switch your RPP structure (TOU, Tiered or ULO) at any time by contacting GrandBridge.

Moving home, transferring or closing a service

In Cambridge, Brantford or North Dumfries, the move-in / move-out conversation starts with GrandBridge Energy directly. Because GrandBridge is the default supplier, it closes the old billing account, sets up the new one, and triggers the final meter read. Most move requests need at least 1 to 2 business days of notice; 5 is safer for end-of-month moves.

The move-out steps in order
1
Call GrandBridge

Call 1-877-871-2215 or use the online portal. Give them the move date and your new address.

2
Confirm dates

1 to 2 business days minimum; allow 5 for month-end moves. Same-day service is rare.

3
Final meter read

On the move-out date, GrandBridge records the final reading remotely from the smart meter.

4
Final bill arrives

GrandBridge issues a closing bill for the period up to the move-out date. The new address bill starts under a fresh account.

Staying inside GrandBridge

Administrative transfer only. No physical work, no service interruption. RPP structure (TOU, Tiered, ULO) carries over by default.

Moving outside the territory

Opening a fresh account is required at the new LDC. Common destinations include Enova Power (Kitchener-Waterloo), Alectra Utilities (Guelph, Hamilton) and Hydro One Networks (rural).

Meters, meter reading and accuracy

GrandBridge Energy owns the meter at your address. Since the province-wide smart-meter rollout was completed in 2010-2011, virtually every Cambridge / Brantford / North Dumfries residential and small-business address is equipped with a smart meter that supports the OEB's Time-of-Use pricing structure.

Smart meter (AMI)
Automatic, hourly readings

Every residential address. Consumption reports back to GrandBridge automatically; no estimated bills.

Suspect a fault?
Request an accuracy test

GrandBridge pulls the meter and tests it on a calibrated bench against Measurement Canada's tolerance.

Green Button
Your own hourly data

Download your hour-by-hour consumption via the customer portal or pipe it into an authorised third-party energy app.

How the accuracy test settles up

If the meter reads outside Measurement Canada's tolerance (typically ±2 %), the test is free and you get a billing adjustment back to the date the fault is presumed to have started. If the meter passes, the test fee is charged to you.

Contact finder

What do you need to do with GrandBridge Energy?

Pick an action. The tool shows the right phone, the right link, and what to expect. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Note: under AUC Rule 002, Alberta distributors are not required to pay automatic compensation for outages. Damage claims are evaluated case-by-case on negligence.

Compensation and damage claims: the honest version

Ontario has no automatic, statutory compensation scheme for individual customers affected by a power outage. The OEB requires GrandBridge to report its reliability performance (SAIDI, SAIFI) every year; penalties for under-performance flow from the regulator to the distributor, not to your mailbox.

If your fridge or freezer contents spoiled, an appliance was damaged by a voltage surge, or you incurred a clear loss during an outage, you can file a damage claim with GrandBridge. The claim is evaluated on negligence.

Typically accepted
Distributor at fault
  • +Equipment failure (transformer, network switch)
  • +Crew error during work on the network
  • +Switching incident causing voltage spike
  • +Unplanned, distributor-caused service interruption
Routinely denied
Outside distributor control
  • ×Severe weather (lightning, wind, ice storms)
  • ×Wildlife contact (squirrels, raccoons on lines)
  • ×Third-party contact (vehicle hits pole, dig-in)
  • ×Planned outages notified in advance
Faster path for most losses

Most home insurance policies cover food spoilage and surge damage at a low excess. If your loss is meaningful, the insurance route is usually faster than a denied utility claim. Keep dated receipts and photos either way.

Regulator and complaint escalation

If you cannot resolve something directly with GrandBridge Energy, there is a clear escalation ladder in Ontario. The Ontario Energy Board sits at the top; the Electrical Safety Authority covers physical-safety issues.

The escalation ladder
1
Talk to GrandBridge customer service

Most issues resolve here. Phone 1-877-871-2215 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

2
Ask for a formal written response

If the front line cannot fix it, request a written decision. This creates the paper trail needed for the next step.

3
File a complaint with the OEB Consumer Protection Office

The OEB investigates complaints involving Ontario LDCs, retailers and unit sub-meter providers. The service is free.

4
OEB formal hearing or court action

Last resort. For damage claims that are denied, civil court is the final route.

Selectra energy expert answers

Is GrandBridge Energy the same company that bills me for my electricity?

Yes, for almost every Brantford or Cambridge household. GrandBridge Energy is both the wires company (it owns the poles, transformers and meters across Brantford, Cambridge and North Dumfries) and the default supplier under Ontario's Standard Supply Service. The default per-kWh rate it charges is the OEB's Regulated Price Plan (RPP).

Why is the company called GrandBridge Energy and not Brantford Power or Energy+?

Because on 2 May 2022 Brantford Power Inc. and Energy+ Inc. (Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro) legally merged to form GrandBridge Energy Inc., under a parent called GrandBridge Corporation. The 'GrandBridge' name nods to the Grand River that runs through both Cambridge and Brantford. Ownership remains 100 % municipal: Cambridge 54.3 %, Brantford 41.0 %, North Dumfries 4.7 %.

I have a power outage. Who do I call?

GrandBridge Energy directly. Call 1-833-769-3701 (the 1-833-POWER-01 outage info line, staffed 24/7) or text 1-888-726-1139. Track restoration on the live outage map. If you see a downed live wire or smell smoke, call 911 first.

What is the Regulated Price Plan (RPP)?

The RPP is the OEB-set default electricity rate, updated every six months with three structures: Time-of-Use (TOU), Tiered, or Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO). A licensed retailer contract would replace the commodity portion only; it does not change GrandBridge's delivery, regulatory or Global Adjustment charges.

Can I choose a different electricity distributor in Cambridge or Brantford?

No. Your distributor is fixed by address. Cambridge (Galt, Preston, Hespeler), Brantford and North Dumfries (St. George, Ayr, Branchton) are all served by GrandBridge. Kitchener-Waterloo is served by Enova Power; Guelph and Hamilton by Alectra Utilities; rural Brant County by Hydro One.

Does GrandBridge Energy pay compensation if my food spoils during an outage?

Not automatically. Ontario has no statutory automatic compensation. You can file a damage claim with GrandBridge, but claims are evaluated case-by-case on negligence and are routinely denied if the cause was weather, wildlife, third-party contact or planned work. Home insurance usually pays out faster.

Who do I call for a new connection or service upgrade?

GrandBridge Energy. Any service upgrade (100 A to 200 A for an EV charger), new build or temporary construction service goes through them. Call 1-877-871-2215 or apply via https://grandbridgeenergy.com. Your electrician also needs to pull an ESA permit for the in-house wiring.