Oshawa Electricity Retailers and Natural Gas Providers
Residents and business owners in Oshawa have a large number of competitive hydro and natural gas providers to choose from for their energy needs. Some of the retailers in the Oshawa area currently providing retail energy services include:
These retail energy providers have a variety of plans and rate structures available to choose from, including fixed rate, variable, and monthly plans with a single fixed fee. To get an overview of the utilities options currently available in Oshawa, please try our energy rate comparison form above. Simply enter your postal code, choose from ‘electricity’ or ‘natural gas,’ and specify whether you’re looking for residential or business plans in order to view an up-to-date list of companies and energy plans available in Oshawa.
Oshawa Electricity and Natural Gas History
Oshawa, located in Southern Ontario, is Canada’s 31st largest city, with a population of roughly 150,000 residents. Oshawa was settled by trappers, and soon attracted a large number of immigrants from the United States who wished to live under British rule. Oshawa was officially incorporated as a village in 1850. The city is often considered as part of the eastern anchor of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Oshawa was rapidly industrialized, with its businesses largely being comprised of tanneries, asheries, and wagon factories. Despite the large number of manufacturing facilities in Oshawa, the village was slow to be connected to Ontario’s railways. However, enterprising businessmen realized that constructing a connecting railway between Oshawa’s harbour and the Grand Trunk Railway could be a boon for the area. The Oshawa Railway and Navigation Company was founded in 1887, but the first railway wasn’t completed until 1895. This electric railroad had few passengers, but turned a profit due to the large amount of freight it transported.
It was this transport method that instigated the development of electrical generation and distribution in the area. In 1929, the local electrical grid was purchased by the Ontario Government, and the city of Oshawa established the Oshawa Public Utilities Commission to operate the system. In 2000, the Oshawa PUC was retired in response to deregulation, and Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. currently serves as the local electrical distributor.
Oshawa Power & Utilities Corporation (OPUC)
The Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation (OPUC) is the default electricity provider in the city. Oshawa residents, however, can choose between regulated plans and competitive retail energy providers for their utilities. As the regulated electricity distribution company, Oshawa Power is the hydro provider for at least 58.000 Oshawa residents.
The OPUC has four subsidiary companies: Oshawa Puc Networks Inc., Oshawa PUC Energy Services Inc., Oshawa PUC Services Inc., and 225112 Ontario Inc. They range from services such as renewable energy solutions in Ontario to the communications network of the Oshawa and Durham region.
Both residential and commercial customers can be under PUC’s coverage. The company’s energy services include district energy systems, combined heat and hydro, solar energy management and an outage management system.
Oshawa PUC Contact Information and Account Login
If you’re looking to report any issues with your utilities, there are multiple ways to get in touch with Oshawa PUC.
Office hours and location: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. from Monday to Friday
Address: 100 Simcoe St. S, Oshawa, ON L1H 7M7
Don’t worry if you don’t have time to go to their local office; there are several other contact options. To get in contact with its customer services or information services, it’s possible to call or message them via email.
Oshawa PUC phone number: 905-723-4623
Oshawa PUC email address: contactus@opuc.on.ca
Another way of contacting Oshawa Power is through their Twitter account or Facebook page. Its social media pages are updated on a regular basis with information related to hydro rates, power outage alerts and energy-saving tips. If you want to access your account information, you don’t need to call or email. OPUC has a “My Account” section on its website for users to log in and check their hydro account details 24 hours a day.
However, if the electricity problem is related to street lights, Oshawa residents must access the City’s service and information request online form and describe the issue.
As to payment information, OPUC customers can pay their bills online and change their account settings whenever they want to. Such settings include the pre-authorized payment option or paying bills using a credit card.
Oshawa Power Outage
Power failures are always inconvenient. They can cause major damages not only to your appliances but also to your schedule. That’s why many retail hydro providers have developed online power outage alerts, so users can get real-time information on blackouts.
The Oshawa PUC provides reports on power outages using its hydro outage map, Outage Centre, which is updated every five minutes. According to its website, reports are created whenever two or more customers are impacted by such failures.
If a user notices a power outage today in Oshawa, they can also access OPUC’s Twitter account for up to date information. The company usually publishes information on outage alerts and power restoration details as well.
Enbridge Gas
In case you’ve ever wondered who delivers natural gas in Oshawa, it’s important to know that consumers have two options: competitive natural gas providers or regulated rate plans.
For both residential and commercial clients, Enbridge Gas Distribution is the regulated natural gas option in Oshawa, according to the City’s official website. In the Enbridge Gas website, users can sign in to check their account information and make payments.
Enbridge provides different phone numbers for each type of natural gas-related issue, so users need to access its “Contact Us” page before they call the company. There is a specific phone help available for most services, including billing, moving, appliance repairs and other home issues.
Checking what’s the right phone number before you call will save you time. However, if you can’t access their website for any reason, it’s possible to call the Enbridge Gas customer services, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1-877-362-7434
There is also an emergency phone number for customers smelling gas or who have noticed gas leaks: 1-866-763-5427
How much do utilities cost in Oshawa?
Oshawa hydro rates are calculated according to the peak and off-peak hours set by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). The province has a time-of-use system, in which hydro rates change as the demand for electricity increases or decreases. The OEB also sets the service charges for distributors in the province.
As electricity prices vary according to on-peak hours or off-peak hours, the OPUC created a residential rate schedule for its customers, so they can get monthly updates on Oshawa hydro prices and other specific charges set by the OEB.
Consumers looking for clearer information on the average Oshawa hydro rates or any other Ontario location can access the Energy Board bill calculator. The online tool allows Ontarians to quickly know what to expect from their monthly utility bills.
Oshawa rebates and incentives
As stated by the Oshawa Power & Utilities Corporation, there are some HVAC rebates by Save On Energy available in Oshawa. If eligible, residents can save up to $850 with furnace or air conditioning purchases, such as high-efficiency items, Energy Star-certified products and specific pumps. To obtain such refunds, consumers must use a participating contractor to buy and install the heating and cooling equipment, as reported in the program’s terms and conditions.
Another incentive available in Oshawa is the Home Assistance Program. This Save On Energy project provides low-income families with free energy efficiency upgrades such as Energy Star-certified light bulbs, window air conditioners, power bars with timers and drying racks. The program aims to bring more comfort to such families, and reduce their monthly electricity bills.
