Energy Assistance
Energy assistance funds for low-income consumers
Emergency Energy Fund
The Ministry of Community and Social Services allocates monies from the provincial Emergency Energy Fund (EEF) to municipalities to help to low-income Ontarians (including social assistance recipients), facing energy-related emergencies. The fund is used to pay for utility arrears, security deposits and reconnection costs for electricity, natural gas, oil and other forms of energy. Municipalities deliver this program directly or through a contracted third-party service provider. Each municipality sets its own eligibility criteria, and can be contacted for more information.
Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB)
CSUMB is for people who qualify for social assistance and are about to lose their housing because they owe rent or utility payments. To prevent a utility or heat disconnection, CSUMB may be issued to a recipient who has received a notice to disconnect due to utility or energy arrears. In addition, CSUMB may be issued to pay for utility or energy reconnection costs where the utility or energy was disconnected due to arrears. To apply, OW or ODSP recipients should speak to their case worker. In addition, discretionary benefits may be available to assist OW/ODSP recipients with the cost of utility arrears, deposits and reconnection fees.
The Winter Warmth Fund
Eligible low-income households that have energy bills that are currently in arrears or about to go into arrears can receive assistance from the Winter Warmth Fund. Funding is provided by participating utilities (Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., Union Gas Ltd., and local distribution companies such as Hydro Ottawa, Enersource, Powerstream and Toronto Hydro). The United Way administers the program through a network of community-based agencies across the province. Funds are credited directly to the electricity or gas account. To determine eligibility for assistance, customers should contact their nearest community agency participating in the program. In Toronto, call Neighbourhood Information Post at 416-924-2543. For information on program availability outside of Toronto, contact one of the participating regional agencies – for a list, visit www.enbridge.com/winterwarmth or call 416-495-5662).
The Heat and Warmth Program (THAW)
The THAW program provides low-income families who reside in the City of London with emergency financial relief for utility arrears. Households must be pending disconnection or currently disconnected, from their utility service and are eligible once every 2 years for assistance. The program begins each year on January 2nd and operates until funds are exhausted. THAW is administered by Housing Support Services at The Salvation Army Centre of Hope. Applications are completed at satellite sites throughout the City of London and at The Salvation Army Centre of Hope. Applicants can call 519-661-0343 ext. 300 for more information.
Fund for Utility Service Emergencies (FUSE) – Peterborough Utilities Services
Peterborough Utilities Services has a program called FUSE which is funded by them as well as by donations provided by local households through direct contributions added to their monthly PUS bill. This fund directly assists people in retaining electrical, water and sewage services and assists in avoiding evictions. Low income PUS customers may apply for FUSE if they are at risk of losing their hydro or need help to restore service. FUSE funds can be used for PUS utility arrears and security deposits. Assistance may be available to individuals or families a maximum of once per year except in extraordinary circumstances. Maximum levels of assistance may vary according to availability of funds. FUSE is administered by the Housing Resource Centre, a program of the Community Counselling and Resource Centre. Call 705-743-9122 for more information.
Heat Bank –Waterloo Region
The Heat Bank is a local heating assistance program administered by Social Services of the Region of Waterloo, with funding provided by Cambridge North Dumfries Hydro Inc., Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Inc. and Waterloo North Hydro Inc. The Heat Bank can provide residents one time per year emergency assistance with heating bills when they have exhausted assistance through Regional Social Services or when they have exhausted, or are not eligible for assistance, through Share the Warmth. The Heat Bank application line can be accessed through Regional Social Services at 519-883-2100 and selecting option # 2. Further information on heating assistance programs can be obtained by calling Lutherwood’s Rent Bank and Eviction Program at 519-743-2460.
Keep the Heat – Windsor & Essex County
Keep the Heat provides energy assistance to eligible low-income households experiencing financial difficulties and/or in receipt of a notice of termination of utilities. The public and affected families are also educated about energy conservation and provided with tools such as window insulation kits. Contact the Unemployed Help Centre at 519-944-4900, or Housing Information Services at 519-254-4824 to find the location closest to you – or visit www.uhc.ca
Shelter Fund – Toronto
This fund is available to OW or ODSP recipients in Toronto who have one or more dependent children under the age of 18. This benefit, up to a maximum of $1500, may be received in addition to CSUMB to assist with last month’s rent deposit, fuel and electricity security deposits (i.e. establishing new account for services), rental, utility, or fuel arrears. To apply, OW or ODSP recipients should speak to their case worker.
Hamilton Utilities Arrears Program
The City of Hamilton has established a fund to help low-income households, OW and ODSP recipients pay for utility arrears, disconnection and security deposits. Families with children are eligible for up to $1,500 in assistance per year. Singles and couples without children can receive up to $799 in assistance per year. To apply, OW and ODSP recipients should contact their case worker directly. Individuals or families not receiving social assistance may contact Special Supports at 905-546-2590. For more information visit www.hamilton.ca/support.
Housing Emergency Loan Program (HELP) – Hamilton
Operates its own loan program as well as the Provincial Rent Bank. Interest-free loans are available for people in a number of situations, including people who are behind in their rent or utilities. Contact 905-527-7479.
Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board – Prevention of Homelessness and Advocacy
The RRDSSAB Prevention of Homelessness and Advocacy will provide advocacy and support in maintaining necessary heat and utilities to ensure that persons can remain in their homes. This program is funding by the Ministry of Community and Social Services under the Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Plan. Access to Homelessness Funding for utilities and heat is “once in a lifetime” funding. Qualifying applicants residing in the Rainy River District are given support to ensure that all other resources have been exhausted prior to applying for Homelessness funding. Households must be pending disconnection or currently disconnected and all funds are paid directly to the electricity or gas account. The program is funded annually and operates until funds are exhausted. Applicants can call 807-274-5349 for more information.
Free energy efficiency/conservation programs for low-income consumers
Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebate
The new OPA Multi-Family Buildings Rebate is offering financial incentives to building owners and property managers wishing to undertake energy efficiency improvements. Buildings that contain more than 6 housing units are eligible. Financial incentives cover HVAC systems, lighting, appliance replacements, building envelope, controls, water heating, motors, pumps and fans. Energy audit and resident education subsidies are also available.
The City of Toronto’s Office of Energy Efficiency is delivering this program in the 416 area code through its Better Buildings Partnership office. For more information, call 416-397-9217 or visit the Better Buildings Partnership website.
If the project is outside of the 416 area code, contact Green$aver at 1-877-697-MEER for more information.
Enbridge Gas Distribution: Low-Income Home Weatherization Retrofit
The Enbridge Home Weatherization Retrofit program provides income-eligible participants with a free home energy assessment and weatherization upgrades at no cost, to improve the energy efficiency of their home. Approximately 400 qualifying low-income Enbridge Gas customer households will benefit from this program that will be delivered by GreenSaver in the City of Toronto, Peel, York and Durham Regions, by EnviroCentre in the Ottawa area and Green Venture in the Niagara Region. The program runs until December 31, 2010, and applications must be received by November 30, 2010.
For more information, eligibility criteria and to obtain an application form, visit: GTA, York, Peel and Durham Regions – GreenSaver website at www.greensaver.org and select Special Programs tab or call 416-203-3106 (1-888-855-3106 toll-free); Ottawa Area – EnviroCentre at www.envirocentre.ca or call 613-580-2424, ext. 15490; Niagara Region – Green Venture at www.greenventure.ca or call 1-866-540-8866.
Enbridge Gas Distribution: Enhanced TAPS program
The Enhanced TAPS Program is available at no cost to qualifying low-income families and individuals through to December 31, 2010. The following energy efficiency measures are supplied and installed: programmable thermostat and low-flow showerheads. Kitchen and bathroom aerators and compact fluorescent light bulbs are provided for recipients to install themselves. Applications are available through United Way agencies participating in the Winter Warmth program. For more information, please visit the Enbridge Gas Distribution website at: www.enbridge.com/gas, select “About Us” then “In the Community” and then select Winter Warmth.
Union Gas: Helping Homes Conserve
Union Gas has developed an energy efficiency and conservation program, “Helping Homes Conserve”, targeted at low-income homeowners and low-income tenants who pay for their energy bills directly and are Union Gas customers. Low-income participants will benefit from the free installation of an Energy Saving Kits (which contain up to 2 low-flow showerheads, two faucet aerators, and pipe insulation) and the free installation of a programmable thermostat. Customers must have a natural gas water heater to qualify for the ESK installation, and a natural gas furnace to qualify for the programmable thermostat installation.
The program was launched in Hamilton on August 17, 2007 and will continue throughout 2010 in Hamilton, Windsor, Sudbury, London, Cornwall, Brantford and North Bay. The program will further expand in 2010, with more cities being added by December. The additional communities served for 2010 will be rolled out sometime between May and December. For more information and to see which cities are currently being served, visit http://www.uniongas.com/helpinghomes/index.asp OR call 1-866-354-5098.
Union Gas also delivers a small Weatherization program. Income-eligible homeowners must live in a residential dwelling that is more than 25 years old to qualify for the program. The following free measures were offered: pre-energy audit, attic insulation, basement insulation, draft proofing, and a post-energy audit. Union Gas weatherized 75 homes in Cornwall in 2009 and will do another 105 in 2010. Union is also targeting approximately 30 homes in Windsor.
Discretionary benefit to cover energy conservation measures
This is a $50 one-time benefit to pay for pre-approved, low-cost energy conservation measures, such as caulking, sealing or weather stripping around doors and windows, insulating hot water pipes and hot water tanks, and installing flow restrictors in showerhead pipes. It is available to OW and ODSP recipients, who can contact their caseworkers for more information.
Ottawa’s PowerPlay program
The PowerPlay program, launched in 2005 and delivered by EnviroCentre and the City of Ottawa, provides an in-home electricity audit showing how to reduce electricity and gas consumption and installs up to $300 worth of conservation devices, free-of-charge, to Ontario Works recipients in the City of Ottawa who have an individual account with Hydro Ottawa or Hydro One. Call 613-580-2582 (ext 3) for more information.
Note: This summary is not an exhaustive list. It represents LIEN’s best efforts to identify available programs to assist low-income consumers and will be updated regularly.
