Energy Assistance Program Changes to Help more People, Businesses and Charitable Organization

Published on: 2020/10/26 - in Releases

The following media release was issued by Utilities Kingston. Links for Hydro One and Enbridge Gas customers also below:

RELEASE — Changes are in place to COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program eligibility criteria for residents, small businesses and charitable organizations. The changes could mean that more natural gas and electricity users may now be eligible for assistance.

The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) are funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by natural gas and electricity utilities across Ontario. The programs provide a one-time, on-bill credit to eligible residential, small business and charitable organization energy customers who have experienced hardships as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We support these changes and are hopeful that more people will be able access this funding. We encourage residents, small businesses and charitable organizations who are struggling to pay their bills due to the pandemic to apply to these COVID-19 Energy Assistance Programs,” says Kevin McCauley, Chief Customer and Technology Officer, Utilities Kingston. “The programs are intended to help you catch up on energy bills and resume regular payments. We really want to get these funds into the hands of our customers who need them most.”

Eligibility Changes and Program Information

Here are the eligibility changes that were implemented by the Ontario Energy Board to make the program more accessible. For complete eligibility criteria, view the below web page.

  • For both CEAP and CEAP-SB, customers that made at least a partial payment on amounts owing from bills prior to March 17, 2020 may now be eligible for CEAP. This includes accounts subject to an arrears payment agreement.
  • For CEAP residential, the account holder (or the account holder’s spouse or common-law partner, residing in the same residence) will no longer need to be unemployed on the date they file their CEAP application form.

Learn about benefit amounts and the complete eligibility criteria, and get answers to frequently asked questions, from the Ontario Energy Board website.

Application Information

Customers who have already applied to one these programs (and didn’t previously qualify) don’t need to do anything. Utilities Kingston will reassess their application, using the amended CEAP/CEAP-SB eligibility requirements, and apply any available credit to the account.

There is no application deadline, however funding for the program is limited. Complete applications for eligible customers will be processed in the order received and we will apply any available credit to the next bill.

Utilities Kingston residential and small business natural gas and electricity customers can apply online.

Hydro One electricity customers can learn more and apply at HydroOne.com.

Enbridge gas customers can learn more and apply at EnbridgeGas.com.


Photo: Pixabay (cc)
Release via: City of Kingston