Match the help to your situation
| Your situation | Start here | Possible result |
|---|---|---|
| Bills are hard to manage month after month | OESP application | A monthly credit on future electricity bills, if approved. |
| You have arrears and may face disconnection | LEAP intake agency; call your provider about urgent account status | An agency assesses an emergency grant, paid to the provider if approved. |
The programs assess household circumstances, including size and income. Check the current OESP criteria and LEAP criteria on the official pages; this routing guide cannot decide whether you qualify.
Apply for an ongoing OESP bill credit
The OEB's OESP page links to its application. Apply online, by mail or with a designated intake agency. If you cannot complete the online route, the OEB says you can download the mail forms from the OESP site, call 1-855-831-8151 to request a mailed form, or ask a designated intake agency for help. If you receive Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, the OEB directs you to your caseworker to apply. If a unit sub-meter provider bills your unit, check the OEB's coverage details rather than assuming that billing arrangement excludes you.
Prepare your electricity bill; the names and birthdates of everyone at home as registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); and Social Insurance Numbers or temporary tax numbers for adult household members. The application also needs signed consent forms for CRA income verification. Give sensitive details only through the official application or intake channel.
If your income changed since your last tax return, or you have not filed recently, the OEB directs you to an intake agency. Bring the household information and income proof; call before visiting for an appointment. Keep a record of what you submit, including consent forms. Ask the program or agency whether it has everything needed and how it will tell you its decision. A submitted application is not an approved credit; check a later bill if approval is confirmed.
Seek LEAP help for arrears or a disconnection notice
Use the OEB's LEAP agency locator. Select Electricity, then match the utility named on your bill and your city to an agency's listed service area. If the match is unclear, ask your utility which agency serves your account. Tell the agency that you need to discuss LEAP emergency financial assistance. It determines qualification and will likely arrange an interview.
Prepare identification, current electricity bills, any disconnection notice, household income proof, your latest bank statement, and a rental receipt, lease, mortgage document or other housing proof the agency accepts. Ask which documents it needs from you and how to send them securely.
If you have a notice or an urgent concern, call your electricity provider using the number on your bill. Tell the agency about the notice and ask when it will contact the provider. Ask the provider for your current balance and service status, whether it has received agency notification, and what it needs from you while the agency reviews your case. The OEB describes customer-service rules and an agency notification process, but sending an application alone does not confirm that your disconnection process has paused. Ask the provider or agency to explain any date or protection for your specific account.
If approved, a LEAP grant goes directly to the provider, not your bank account, and may be less than your arrears. Ask how the agency will communicate its decision and how the provider will show any credit.
Confirm the result on your account
Record the application date, channel, contact, any reference number, and your next follow-up. A submission receipt does not establish approval or an account credit. Check the decision with the program or agency and the bill or service status with your provider.
A call can be simple: “I applied for [OESP/LEAP] on [date]. Can you confirm what you received, whether anything is missing, who will tell me the decision, and what I should check on my electricity account? I have [a notice or urgent account concern]. What is my current service status, and who should I contact next?”
If the bill itself looks wrong, see our guide to checking a higher or unfamiliar bill.