Setting Up Utilities in Ontario2026-04-15T18:52:13+00:00
Setting Up Utilities in Ontario
Hydro, gas, water, internet. The naming and the regional providers can be confusing for newcomers. This guide explains who to call, when to set things up, and how to avoid surprise security deposits.
⚡
Hydro Means
Electricity
📅
Set Up
2-3 weeks ahead
🛡️
Newcomer Deposit
$0 to $400
📋
Documents
ID + Lease
First step before contacting any utility: Read your lease (if renting) or buyer agreement (if buying) to confirm which utilities are included and which you are responsible for. Skip the providers for utilities your landlord covers.
The Utilities Decoded
Ontario has its own naming for some utilities. Here is what each one means.
⚡ Hydro = Electricity
Powers everything from lights to your fridge. Provided by your regional utility (Toronto Hydro, Alectra, Hydro One, etc.). You always need to set up hydro yourself unless explicitly included in rent.
🔥 Gas = Natural Gas
Heats most Ontario homes and powers gas stoves, water heaters, and dryers. Provided by Enbridge Gas across most of Ontario. Set up only if your home uses gas.
💧 Water
Provided by your municipality (city or town). Often included in rent for apartments and condos. Houses usually pay water directly. Bills come every 1 to 3 months depending on the city.
📡 Internet
Wired (cable or fibre) or wireless (5G home internet). Many providers compete; prices vary widely. Always set up by you. Installation appointments book up quickly, especially at month-end.
Step 1: Confirm What Your Lease Includes
Section 5 of the Ontario Standard Lease (Form 2229) lists exactly which services and utilities are included in your rent. The form has checkboxes for:
• Electricity
• Heat
• Water
• Other utilities (specified separately)
If a utility is checked as "included", do not set up an account; the landlord pays it. If unchecked or marked "not included", you set it up. If your lease is unclear, request a written addendum from your landlord clarifying responsibility before move-in.
Common patterns by housing type:
•Apartment buildings: Often include water, heat, and sometimes electricity. Tenant pays internet.
•Condos: Heat and water often included in condo fees (paid by landlord). Tenant pays hydro and internet.
•Houses (rented): Tenant typically pays everything except sometimes water.
•Owned home: You pay everything.
Step 2: Set Up Hydro (Electricity)
Unlike gas (where one company serves most of Ontario), electricity is delivered by dozens of regional providers. Your provider depends on where you live. Common ones:
Toronto HydroCity of Toronto416-542-8000
Alectra UtilitiesMississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Hamilton, Markham, and other GTA cities1-833-253-2872
Hydro OneMost rural and small-town Ontario, plus some suburbs1-888-664-9376
Hydro OttawaCity of Ottawa613-738-6400
Elexicon EnergyWhitby, Ajax, Pickering, Belleville, others east of Toronto1-888-420-0070
Kitchener-Wilmot HydroKitchener and Wilmot Township519-745-4771
London HydroCity of London519-661-5503
ENWIN UtilitiesWindsor519-255-2727
If you are not sure who serves your address, search "[your city] hydro provider" on Google, or check your landlord's previous bills if available. The Ontario Energy Board (oeb.ca) has a complete provider list.
What to provide when calling or applying online:
• Full legal name and date of birth
• New address and exact move-in date
• Phone number and email
• Government-issued photo ID (driver's licence, Photo Card, or passport)
• Lease agreement or property closing documents
• Optional: SIN for credit check (not required by all providers)
Hydro One has suspended security deposits for new residential accounts as of 2024. If your provider is Hydro One, you will not be asked for a deposit. Other providers may still require one; ask when you set up the account.
Step 3: Set Up Natural Gas (If Applicable)
Natural gas is much simpler than hydro because Enbridge Gas serves nearly all of Ontario. Set up an account at enbridgegas.com or by calling 1-877-362-7434.
Do you have gas? Check with your landlord or look at the appliances. Common signs your home uses natural gas: a gas furnace (vented exhaust pipe outside), a gas water heater, a gas stove with blue flames, a gas dryer, or a gas fireplace. If your home is all-electric (electric baseboard heaters, electric water heater), you do not need a gas account.
Setup costs: Enbridge typically charges a one-time account setup fee of about $25. New customers without Canadian credit history may be asked for a security deposit, usually $200 to $400, refunded after 1 year of on-time payments.
Bills: Gas costs vary by season. Winter heating months (November through March) are the most expensive, with bills often $150 to $300 per month for a detached house. Summer bills are usually $20 to $50 (just hot water and cooking).
Equal billing plan: Enbridge offers a budget billing program that averages your annual usage and charges the same amount every month. Many people prefer this for budgeting.
Step 4: Set Up Water
Water in Ontario is provided by your local municipality (city, town, or region). Apartment dwellers usually have water included in rent. Homeowners and many house renters pay water directly to the municipality.
How to set up: Search "[your city] water account" or visit your municipality's website. Most cities allow online setup. You provide your name, address, move-in date, and ID. Bills come every 1 to 3 months depending on the city.
Common costs: $40 to $120 per month for a household of 2-4 people, depending on usage and city rates. Water bills usually include a charge for sewer service (wastewater treatment) and sometimes garbage and recycling collection.
Tip: Take a meter reading on move-in day and email it to the municipality. This protects you from being billed for water used by the previous tenant.
Step 5: Choose an Internet Provider
Major providers (more expensive, more support):
•Bell: Fibre and DSL across Ontario. Reliable but premium pricing ($90 to $130/month).
•Rogers: Cable across Ontario. Often bundled with TV and mobile ($85 to $120/month).
•Telus: Recently expanded into Ontario. Mostly mobile and 5G home internet.
Smaller alternatives (cheaper, lighter support):
•TekSavvy: Resells Bell and Rogers networks at lower prices ($50 to $80/month). Reliable but customer service can be slow.
•Oxio: Modern company offering simple no-contract plans ($55 to $75/month).
•Start.ca: Strong in southwestern Ontario, customer service highly rated ($55 to $85/month).
•Comwave: Offers home internet bundles and VoIP phone service.
•Distributel, Carrytel, Beanfield, VMedia: Other regional alternatives worth comparing.
Things to consider when choosing:
•Speed: 50 to 75 Mbps is enough for most households (browsing, streaming, video calls). Pick higher only if you have many devices, work from home heavily, or stream in 4K.
•Data caps: Most plans now offer unlimited data. Avoid plans with caps unless you use very little internet.
•Contract length: Many providers offer no-contract plans. Avoid long contracts unless the discount is significant.
•Installation timing: Book at least 2 to 4 weeks before move-in, especially for fibre installations or month-end moves.
Newcomers without Canadian credit history may be asked for a security deposit ($200 to $500) or to pay several months upfront. Provide a co-signer with credit history if possible. Bell and Rogers are stricter on this than smaller providers.
2 to 3 Week Setup Checklist
Use this timeline to make sure everything is ready by move-in day.
3 weeks beforeConfirm what your lease includes and which utilities you need. Get this in writing.
3 weeks beforeBook internet installation. Appointments fill quickly, especially at month-end.
2 weeks beforeSet up hydro (electricity). Most providers can activate within 1 to 3 business days, but earlier is safer.
2 weeks beforeSet up gas (if applicable). Enbridge typically activates within 1 to 5 business days.
1-2 weeks beforeSet up water. Most municipalities activate within 1 to 3 business days.
1 week beforeConfirm all installation appointments and account start dates with each provider.
Move-in dayTake meter readings for hydro, gas, and water. Email them to each provider as your starting reading.
Move-in dayTest all utilities. Lights, hot water, gas stove (if applicable), and internet. Report any issues to the provider immediately.
Saving Money on Utilities
Hydro: Use power off-peak. In Ontario, electricity is cheapest on weekends, holidays, and weekdays after 7 PM. Run dishwashers, laundry, and EV charging during these hours.
Gas: Lower the thermostat. Each degree Celsius lower can save 5% on heating costs. A programmable thermostat that drops temperature when you sleep saves significantly.
Internet: Switch every 1-2 years. Loyalty does not pay. New customer promotions are usually 30-50% cheaper than ongoing rates. Call to negotiate or switch providers.
Use energy efficiency rebates. The federal Canada Greener Homes Initiative and Save On Energy Ontario both offer rebates for insulation, heat pumps, and energy-efficient appliances.
Get a free energy audit. Many utilities and the province offer free or subsidized home energy audits that identify ways to reduce bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I responsible for the previous tenant's unpaid utility bills? +
No. As a new account holder, you are only responsible for usage from the day your account starts. Take a meter reading on move-in day and provide it to your utility provider so the previous account is closed cleanly.
My landlord said utilities are included but I am still being asked to set up an account. What do I do? +
Talk to your landlord first. The lease section 5 should clearly show which utilities are included. If the lease says "included" but the landlord is asking you to pay, point to the lease language. If they continue to insist, you can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board using Form T2 (Tenant Application About Tenant Rights).
Can my landlord turn off utilities to force me to leave? +
No. It is illegal in Ontario for a landlord to disconnect utilities to evict a tenant or force them to leave. If this happens, contact the Landlord and Tenant Board immediately and consider calling the police if your safety is at risk (extreme cold or no water).
Do I need a SIN to set up utilities? +
Some providers ask for a SIN to run a credit check, but you do not have to provide it. You can refuse, in which case the provider may ask for a security deposit instead. Newcomers without a SIN can usually set up accounts with a deposit instead.
When do I get my security deposit back? +
Most providers refund security deposits after 12 months of on-time payments. Some take longer (up to 24 months) and a few refund only when you close the account. Ask the provider when you set up the account so you know what to expect.
What is "time-of-use" pricing for hydro? +
Most Ontario residential customers are on time-of-use pricing. The price you pay per kWh varies by time of day: cheapest off-peak (nights, weekends, holidays), more expensive mid-peak, most expensive on-peak (weekday afternoons in summer, weekday mornings and evenings in winter). Check with your provider for current rates and time windows.
