There are four rates structures that can apply to residential rental apartments or buildings:

1) The tenant pays their own bill (rate code 02, 03, 04):

Base connection charge - $10.83 / month + HST

Usage charge - $0.1067 / kWh( Kilowatt hours) used + HST

2) The landlord pays a non demand rate (Rate code 10):

This rate code is limited to a maximum annual energy use of 32,000 kWh

Base connection charge - $12.65 / month + HST

Usage charge - $0.1181 / kWh + HST for the first 200 kWh per month

- $0.1039 / kWh + HST for any remaining use

3) The landlord is billed on both energy usage and peak demand (Rate code 11):

Direct demand charge - $8.26 per kW (Kilowatt) of peak demand / month+ HST

Usage charge affected by demand - $0.0878 / kWh + HST –

The size of this block is 200 kWh / kW of peak demand.

- $0.0620 / kWh + HST for remaining use

This billing structure is fundamentally different since your bill is now based on both the total amount of energy use as measured in kWh ( Kilowatt Hours) and the peak amount of power used (measured in Kilowatts) at any one time within a month. You will be charged a direct per kW charge for your peak kW usage each month. This peak monthly kW usage also is used to determine the number of kWh that must be purchased at the higher rate each month. In total, monthly demand charges usually equal $13.42 per kW used. It is extremely important that you understand how demand based billing structures work and what you can do reduce costs by limiting short duration periods of peak demand. Read the article below for more information.

4) Time of use rates (Rate code 06): If individually billed apartment units have specific heating equipment that can store heat overnight for daytime use, electricity can be purchased at half price overnight and on weekends. Electricity purchased during the peak of the heating season periods (weekdays in December, January and February) costs 50% more than regular rates. A specialized meter is also required that adds about $100 per year to connection costs.

(see Understanding Electricity Peak Demand Costs )