Skip to main content

Utilities Kingston website

COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program changes to help more people, businesses and charitable organizations

COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program changes to help more people, businesses and charitable organizations

Changes are in place to the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program eligibility criteria for residents, small businesses and charitable organizations. The changes could mean that more natural gas and electricity users may now be eligible for assistance.

The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) are funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by natural gas and electricity utilities across Ontario. The programs provide a one-time, on-bill credit to eligible residential, small business and charitable organization energy customers who have experienced hardships as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We support these changes and are hopeful that more people will be able to access this funding. Residents, small businesses and charitable organizations who are struggling to pay their bills due to the pandemic: we encourage you to apply to these COVID-19 Energy Assistance Programs,” says Kevin McCauley, Chief Customer and Technology Officer, Utilities Kingston. “The programs are intended to help you catch up on energy bills and resume regular payments. We really want to get these funds into the hands of our customers who need them most.”

Eligibility changes and program information

Here are the eligibility changes that were implemented by the Ontario Energy Board to make the program more accessible. For complete eligibility criteria, view the below web page.

  • For both CEAP and CEAP-SB, customers that made at least a partial payment on amounts owing from bills prior to March 17, 2020, may now be eligible for CEAP. This includes accounts subject to an arrears payment agreement.
  • For CEAP residential, the account holder (or the account holder’s spouse or common-law partner, residing in the same residence) will no longer need to be unemployed on the date they file their CEAP application form.

Learn about benefit amounts and the complete eligibility criteria, and get answers to frequently asked questions, from the Ontario Energy Board's website.

Application information

Customers who have already applied to one of these programs (and didn’t previously qualify) don’t need to do anything. We will reassess your application, using the amended CEAP/CEAP-SB eligibility requirements, and apply any available credit to the account.

There is no application deadline, however, funding for the program is limited. Complete applications for eligible customers will be processed in the order received and we will apply any available credit to the next bill.

Utilities Kingston natural gas and electricity customers can apply online using the revised online forms:

Hydro One electricity customers can learn more and apply at HydroOne.com.

Enbridge gas customers can learn more and apply at EnbridgeGas.com.

Contact us

Customers are reminded: if you are concerned about paying your bill, please contact us to extend payment arrangements. We want to make flexible payment arrangements and connect you with financial assistance programs, to avoid disrupting utility services.  Call 613-546-1181, ext. 2278, Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.