Ontario EV Charging Costs Drop with New OEB Rates

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has announced updates to its Regulated Price Plan that will significantly lower home charging costs for electric vehicle owners across the province, effective November 1, 2026.

The most notable change for EV drivers is the introduction of an updated Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) rate of just 3.7 cents per kWh between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. This represents a substantial reduction from previous overnight rates and makes home charging remarkably affordable.

The new pricing structure also includes revised Time-of-Use and Tiered plans, creating multiple options for Ontario residents to optimize their charging costs based on when they plug in.

Updated Rate Structures

Under the new Ultra-Low Overnight plan:

• Ultra-Low Overnight (23:00 to 07:00): 3.7¢/kWh
• Weekend Off Peak (07:00 to 23:00): 9.1¢/kWh
• Mid-Peak (07:00 to 16:00 and 21:00 to 23:00): 14.6¢/kWh
• On-Peak (16:00 to 21:00): 37.7¢/kWh

The updated Time-of-Use plan offers:

• Off-Peak (19:00 to 07:00 and all day weekends/holidays): 9.1¢/kWh
• Mid-Peak (11:00 to 17:00): 14.6¢/kWh
• On-Peak (07:00-11:00 and 17:00 to 19:00): 18.9¢/kWh

For those on Tiered plans, the rate is 11.2¢/kWh for the first 1,000 kWh monthly, increasing to 13.2¢/kWh for additional consumption.

With these rates, fully charging an electric vehicle at home can cost between $3 and $10 depending on the plan and time of day, assuming overnight charging on the ULO plan.

Rewards Programs Add Further Savings

Several Ontario utilities now offer financial incentives for allowing managed home charging:

• Hydro One myEnergy Rewards (EV stream): $50 sign-up bonus plus $50 annually if participating in more than half of managed charging sessions, for up to $100 in the first year. Available via the Optiwatt app, Tesla vehicles are eligible, and sessions begin in November 2026 on an invitation-only basis.
• Hydro Ottawa GridFlex: $75 enrollment fee plus $20 per year for eligible EVs (including Tesla Model 3, Y, S, X and Cybertruck). Limited to parts of Kanata and Stittsville, the program runs until September 30, 2028.
• Enova Power, Essex Powerlines and Oakville Hydro: Customers can earn points toward gift cards through the EV Everywhere managed-charging app, though no specific dollar value has been published.

Importantly, these utility rewards cannot be stacked, as each home receives service from only one provider. The province's Save on Energy Peak Perks program, which covers smart thermostats, does not extend to electric vehicles.

Tesla-Specific Options Can Exceed Charging Costs

Tesla owners have additional opportunities through third-party apps that pay for home charging electricity by selling credits under federal Clean Fuel Regulations:

• WattsApp: Offers 21 points per kWh, with 100 points equaling $1, for owners with a Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3 or Universal Wall Connector.
• Telemiq: Provides 5 to 14.5 points per kWh depending on annual charging volume, and works with any Tesla vehicle, even when using the Mobile Connector.
• RoadToEV: Pays 10 cents per kWh for Tesla Wall Connector owners, with annual payouts each July.

These apps pay out the following year once credits are verified, and users can only select one app per charger annually.

To illustrate the potential savings, consider a 2026 Model Y RWD driven 20,000 km annually. Natural Resources Canada rates this vehicle at 15.4 kWh/100 km, resulting in approximately 3,080 kWh of yearly charging needs.

At the new 3.7¢/kWh overnight rate, the electricity cost alone is about $114 per year. Hydro One's first-year $100 reward covers nearly 90% of this expense. Meanwhile, WattsApp would generate approximately $647 on the same 3,080 kWh, RoadToEV about $308, and Telemiq around $156—meaning many Tesla owners on the ultra-low overnight plan could actually receive more in rewards than they spend to charge at home.

As Ontario continues to refine its electricity pricing to support EV adoption, these combined rate reductions and incentive programs make home charging not only affordable but potentially profitable for electric vehicle owners.

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