Ontario Regulation 24/25, made under the Ontario Rebate for Electricity Consumers Act, 2016, introduces amendments to Ontario Regulation 363/16 (General). This regulation primarily modifies eligibility criteria for electricity rebates and adjusts the rebate percentage. One of the key changes involves amending paragraph 3 of subsection 1.1(1) by adding the phrase “Subject to subsection (2)” at the beginning. Additionally, subparagraph 3 ii of subsection 1.1(1) has been replaced to clarify that an individual must hold a valid farming business registration number under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993, or be exempt due to an order under subsection 22(6) of that Act. Similarly, subsection 1.1(2) is altered to specify that certain provisions, including paragraphs 3, 4.1, 5, and 6 of subsection (1), do not apply to accounts related to multi-unit complexes that include specific types of units.

An amendment is made to the reduction of the rebate percentage applied to eligible electricity accounts. Section 2 of the regulation revises the previous rebate rate from 19.3% to 13.1%, a change that is also reflected in subsection 4(3), ensuring consistency in the application of the new rebate percentage. This reduction has implications for electricity consumers who rely on this rebate for financial relief, as it lowers the amount deducted from their electricity bills under the Ontario Rebate for Electricity Consumers Act, 2016. The regulation further amends subsection 18(1) to ensure consistency with changes made to subsection 1.1(1) by replacing subparagraph 3 ii with the same revised criteria regarding farming business registration numbers and exemptions.

Ontario Regulation 24/25 revokes specific provisions in Ontario Regulation 342/19 that would have otherwise altered subparagraph 3 ii of subsection 1.1(1) and subsection 18(1) of Ontario Regulation 363/16. Specifically, subsection 2(2) and subsection 12(2) of Ontario Regulation 342/19, which were set to remake these sections, are repealed. This ensures that the updated criteria outlined in Ontario Regulation 24/25 remain in effect without further modification from previous regulatory changes.

The regulation took effect on March 7, 2025, except for the amendments to sections 2 and 3, which are retroactively applied to November 1, 2024. This retroactive application aims to ensure continuity in rebate calculations and prevents any discrepancies in electricity billing for eligible consumers. Ontario Regulation 24/25 introduces substantive changes to electricity rebate eligibility, particularly affecting farming businesses, and reduces the rebate percentage, impacting financial support for electricity consumers in Ontario.

Ontario (24/25) March 21, 2025
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