Retail Energy Contracts

If you are approached to sign or renew a gas or electricity contract for your home or small business, it’s important to know who you’re dealing with. Energy company salespeople must wear an ID badge and give you a business card.

Four things to remember if you are approached to sign an energy contract:

Always make sure you get a business card and look at the salesperson’s ID badge first

Don’t share personal information (i.e. your gas or electricity bill) unless you are sure you want to sign a contract

Carefully read the contract, disclosure statement and price comparison provided by the salesperson

The Ontario Energy Board does not go door to door

For more tips and information on energy contracts, see our Video and Tipsheets below, or read our latest Consumer Brochure.

VIDEO: KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH

TIPSHEETS

Are you a residential consumer and considering an energy contract? Our tip sheets can help you make the choice that's right for you.

You can also read this information
in other languages:

What is the OEB's relationship to Energy Companies?

The Ontario Energy Board regulates the conduct of companies that offer retail energy contracts to residential and small business electricity and natural gas consumers in Ontario.

Here are some of the things that the Board does to protect the interests of consumers:

We license electricity retailers and gas marketers and require them to follow fair business practices
We provide comprehensive information to residential and small business consumers on their rights and responsibilities; and
We monitor and enforce compliance so that electricity retailers and gas marketers are accountable if they do not follow their legal or regulatory obligations (See OEB Enforcement Proceedings page on the Industry side of our website)

Ontario's Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010 (ECPA) paved the way for additional protection for residential and small business energy consumers. Visit the Ministry of Energy website for more information about the ECPA. After the ECPA took effect, we updated our own rules for electricity retailers and gas marketers.

The Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010 (ECPA)

The ECPA established a new framework for retailers and marketers offering contracts to residential and small business consumers, including:

Retailers/marketers can only enter into, verify, renew or extend contracts with the account holder, the account holder’s spouse or the account holder’s authorized agent for the relevant premises
An identification badge must be worn and prominently displayed by a salesperson
All contract costs must be disclosed, and the maximum amount for cancellation fees has been limited
Customers have enhanced rights to cancel contracts
Consumers are provided with greater transparency
- Contracts and contract renewals must come with a Board-approved price comparison sheet that shows the contract price being offered and the price currently charged by the utility;
  - View a sample price comparison sheet
  - View the Board-approved price comparison templates showing the price currently charged by the utility
- Contracts and contract renewals must come with a plain language disclosure statement approved by the Board;
  - View the disclosure statements
  - View the disclosure statements in multiple languages;

More Information

Before Signing a Contract After Signing a Contract Nearing the End of a Contract: Renewals List of Active Retailers and Marketers

Use the OEB online bill calculator to get a monthly bill estimate for electricity or natural gas, whether you’ve signed an energy contract or buy directly from your local utility.

Your Electricity Utility - Bill Calculator Your Natural Gas Utility - Bill Calculator

Page last updated 2013-04-30