Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
If you are behind on your electricity or natural gas bill and face having your service disconnected, you may qualify for emergency financial help through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).
See below regarding temporary changes to the screening guidelines used by LEAP EFA agencies in evaluating applications for this year (2022).
Note: Effective January 10, 2022 the OEB has made temporary changes to the screening guidelines used by LEAP EFA agencies in evaluating applications for this year (2022). They are:
Applicants do not need to be in threat of disconnection or have been disconnected in order to be eligible, but they still need to be in arrears and at or below the income thresholds
Eligible customers may apply for and receive LEAP EFA more than once per year, but the total amount received by a household may not exceed the maximum grant amount.
This year, the maximum value of grant amounts has been increased to $1,000 ($1,200 for customers with electrically-heated homes). This is double the maximum allowed grant under the usual LEAP program rules.
Note: Eligible customers cannot receive more money than they owe on their bills. Therefore, they may not receive the maximum grant amount.
Visit the OEB website for more information on the LEAP program.
Contact one of the following social agencies for assistance:
Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
The OESP is an Ontario Energy Board (OEB) program that lowers electricity bills for lower-income households. The OESP provides a monthly credit to eligible customers based on household income and household size. The OESP credits are applied directly to eligible customers’ bills.
