Low Income Energy Assistance Program

If you qualify as a low-income customer and are having difficulty paying your electricity bill, then you can apply for emergency relief through the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). LEAP provides a one-time payment of up to $500 per household per calendar year ($600 if your home is heated electrically), which is credited directly to your electricity bill.

This emergency financial assistance program was developed by the Ontario Energy Board to help low-income customers manage their energy costs and avoid having their service disconnected. It is not intended to provide regular or ongoing bill payment assistance. Rather, it ensures that low-income families stay connected during a crisis.

Your eligibility for emergency relief under LEAP is based on a number of factors, such as household income, the number of people living in your household and the amount you currently owe. For example, your household’s income must be at or below the Statistics Canada Low-Income Measure (LIM), after tax, to qualify for assistance. The Ontario Child Benefit, Canada Child Benefit, and Universal Child Care Benefit are excluded when calculating income eligibility.