SMART METERS AND TIME-OF-USE RATES

A smart meter tracks how much electricity you use and when you use it — key information to help you better manage your electricity costs. In Ontario, all homes and small businesses will be equipped with smart meters by the end of 2010.

By 2011, most consumers in Ontario will have made the switch to Time-of-Use rates, where the price of electricity depends on when it is used. The exact timing and rollout of Time-of-Use rates will vary by electricity utility. Most residential and small business served by Milton Hydro Distribution Inc. and Newmarket-Tay Hydro are paying Time-of-Use rates. Toronto Hydro, Powerstream, Horizon Utilities and Chatham-Kent Energy are currently rolling out Time-of-Use rates for their customers.

The IESO is responsible for the management of the province-wide data repository that collects and manages smart meter consumption data used to create Time-of-Use bills.

Smart Meters: An Overview

	How Your Smart Meter Works A smart meter electronically tracks how much electricity is used and when it is used, paving the way for time-of-use pricing.
	Time-of-Use Prices For consumers with active smart meters, the price of electricity depends on when it's used. Learn more about on-peak, mid-peak and off-peak pricing.
	Make the Shift Eliminate or shift some of your electricity use during peak periods – and save.
	Smoothing the Peaks Why reducing electricity consumption during peak periods is important for the provincial power system – and the environment.
	Smart Meter FAQs Answers to some of your smart meter questions.