Distributor vs retailer: the only split you need to remember
In Ontario, the company that delivers your electricity is different from the company that can sell you a fixed-rate plan. Your Regulated Price Plan is the default; a retailer contract only ever replaces the commodity line of your bill.
- Owns the wires, delivers your power
- Reads your meter and sends the bill
- Delivery rates are OEB-approved
- Cannot be chosen by the customer
- Sells the kWh or m³ commodity contract
- Replaces just the commodity line of the bill
- Carries an OEB licence (ER- or GM-)
- Optional: you can stay on the RPP
Ontario energy retailers directory
The six most-asked-about retailers in the Ontario market, in editorial reading order: largest and longest-established first, then niche and B2B. Click any card for full details, plans and contact info.
Profile: Ontario's original competitive retailer (1997)
Profile: NRG Energy subsidiary, 90+ markets
Profile: 5-year fixed-rate price protection
Profile: B2B supplier for Ontario businesses
Profile: Wholesale-style fixed rates for business
Profile: Ottawa-based, family-owned
More retailers and gas marketers hold an Ontario licence; the complete register is published by the Ontario Energy Board.
Filter by who they serve
Every retailer here sells fixed-rate contracts; what differs is whether they focus on households or businesses.
Before you sign with any of them
A fixed-rate contract is a multi-year commitment, often three to five years. The Ontario Energy Board mandates a 10-day cooling-off period and a Third Party Verification call to affirm any sales-channel enrolment. Five things to read before signing with any of the retailers above.
Know the current Regulated Price Plan rate per kWh so the fixed rate has a baseline to beat.
What is the Regulated Price Plan ›Read the full contract term in months, the renewal mechanism, and the early-cancellation fee.
How to sign or cancel a contract ›Check whether the price is per kWh or per m³, and whether it includes or excludes the Global Adjustment.
What is the Global Adjustment ›Confirm how the Ontario Electricity Rebate is treated once the retailer commodity rate is on the bill.
What is the Ontario Electricity Rebate ›Compare the fixed rate against Time-of-Use, Tiered and Ultra-Low Overnight pricing on your own profile.
Time-of-Use vs Tiered vs ULO ›How to sign with a retailer in Ontario: the 4-step process
Signing a fixed-rate contract takes minutes, but it is a multi-year commitment. No work happens to the wires, and your LDC keeps delivering and billing exactly as before. Only the commodity line of the bill changes.
Find your LDC, your current commodity charge and a recent month's consumption (kWh or m³). This is your baseline.
Look at total annual cost (rate × your consumption + any monthly fee), the contract term and the exit fee, not just the headline rate.
Sign directly with the retailer. A Third Party Verification call confirms a door-to-door or telephone enrolment is genuine.
You have 10 business days to cancel without penalty. After that, the fixed commodity rate replaces the RPP on your next bills.
Ontario gives you 10 business days after signing a retailer contract to cancel without penalty. Use the time to read the full terms, especially the early-termination fee, the renewal clause and how the Global Adjustment is handled. See how to sign or cancel an energy contract in Ontario.
Selectra energy expert insights
A fixed rate only looks good against the regulated price it replaces. Pull the current Regulated Price Plan rate and multiply it by your annual consumption before judging any retailer offer.
A retailer contract locks your commodity rate for years. That protects you when regulated prices climb, but costs more when they fall. Pick it because you value predictability, not because it is automatically cheaper.
Many fixed-rate contracts auto-renew at a higher rate when the term ends. Set a calendar reminder 60 days before expiry so you can re-shop, re-sign, or return to the Regulated Price Plan through your LDC.