In this article:
- When and how retailers notify you about renewing your contract in Ontario
- When automatic renewal may apply to natural gas contracts
- How to renew your electricity or natural gas contract
- Cancelling a renewal within the cooling-off period
- What happens if you choose not to renew your contract
Sooner or later, your retail electricity or natural gas contract will reach the end of its term. When that happens, what do you do?
Your Provider Will Send You a Renewal Request
Roughly 30 to 60 days before the termination date of your contract, your provider will send you a renewal or expiry notice. These materials may be provided by mail or electronically and will typically include:
- Renewal Form: This form will describe any changes or updates to the previous contract, and an explanation of what to do if you want to renew (or whether automatic renewal is available). Instructions will be included for both accepting and declining the renewal.
- Disclosure Statement and Price Comparison: You will be provided with these documents. The disclosure statement explains your rights and how you can cancel the contract. The price comparison sheet will give you a comparison of the contract price versus the price currently offered by your local utility.
Your Contract May Automatically Renew
Your energy contract may be automatically renewed for a term of up to one year if the following conditions are satisfied:
The contract is for natural gas service. Electricity contracts cannot be automatically renewed.
Your original contract included a clear provision allowing automatic renewal.
How to Renew Your Contract
If you decide that you want to renew your contract, you will have to indicate that desire on the renewal form that your provider sends you, sign it and the disclosure statement (and any other required forms they send you), and then return them to your retailer.
Your provider may offer the option of also renewing your contract through their website, by email, or over the phone. If this is done over the phone, your provider must follow consumer protection requirements set by the Ontario Energy Board, and the agreement may be recorded.
If you change your mind about renewing, you have 10 days to cancel your renewal without penalty. You can perform this cancellation over the phone or via mail.
Choosing to Allow Your Contract to Expire
If you do not wish to renew your retail energy contract, indicate this on the renewal forms (or contact your retailer by phone or online). When your contract ends, your local utility will resume supplying your energy under the default pricing system in Ontario.
Key takeaways:
- Retail energy providers must send a renewal or expiry notice 30–60 days before end of the contract.
- Renewal materials typically include a disclosure statement and a price comparison.
- Only natural gas contracts may be automatically renewed.
- You can renew your contract by signing and returning the required documents.
- You have a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel a renewal without penalty.
