Utilities for Renters in Toronto: Who Pays What

In Toronto, who pays utilities depends entirely on your lease: electricity ("hydro") usually comes from Toronto Hydro or a building's sub-meter company, natural gas from Enbridge Gas, water from the City of Toronto (billed to the property owner), and internet from whichever provider you choose. Check the "Services and utilities" section of your lease before you sign, then set up any accounts in your name before move-in day.

Here's what each utility is, how to tell what's included, and how to split and cut the bills.

Key takeaways

• Your lease decides. Ontario's standard lease has a section on who pays for electricity, heat and water.
• Hydro: Toronto Hydro, or a unit sub-meter provider in many condos.
• Gas: Enbridge Gas, mostly relevant if your unit has its own gas heating or appliances.
• Water: billed by the City to the owner, so tenants usually reimburse the landlord if the lease says so.
• Internet: almost always your choice and your account, unless rent includes it.

Who provides what in Toronto

How to tell what your lease includes

Most Ontario tenancies signed since April 30, 2018 must use the government's standard lease. In it:

• Section 5 shows the base rent plus any separate charges, such as parking.
• Section 6 (Services and utilities) says which services are included and who is responsible for electricity, heat and water.

For room rentals, especially where you live with the owner, there may be no standard lease. In that case, ask for a written list of what's included, for example: "Rent includes heat, hydro, water and Wi-Fi." Vague phrases like "utilities included" can lead to arguments later about air conditioning or a space heater.

Questions to ask before you sign:

1. Which utilities are in my name, and which are included?
2. Is the unit separately metered for electricity? By Toronto Hydro or a sub-meter company?
3. Is heating gas, electric baseboard or a heat pump? (Electric heat can make winter hydro bills much higher.)
4. Is there a hot water tank rental, and who pays it?
5. Can you share a recent bill or a rough monthly average?

Our Ontario standard lease guide explains the rest of the form.

Setting up your accounts

Hydro (Toronto Hydro)

If you're responsible for electricity and your unit has its own Toronto Hydro meter, open an account through Toronto Hydro's start, stop, move page or by phone at 416-542-8000 (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Do it at least a week or two before move-in so the account starts on your move-in date.

In many condos, electricity, and sometimes water, is billed by a unit sub-meter provider rather than Toronto Hydro. Your landlord or the building's management office can tell you which company to call.

Gas (Enbridge Gas)

If gas is in your name, submit your move online through Enbridge's move page. You'll need the address and your move-in date. Enbridge notes that a one-time New Account Charge appears on your first bill when you move to a new property.

Water (City of Toronto)

The City bills water, sewer and solid waste charges to the property owner. An owner can ask the City to mail bills to a tenant as their designate, but the City says the owner remains responsible for full payment. If your lease says you reimburse water, ask to see each bill.

Internet

Compare plans on speed, price after any promotional period, contract length, and installation or equipment fees. In a shared home, agree who holds the account, since that person is on the hook for the contract.

Understanding electricity prices

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) sets electricity prices for Regulated Price Plan customers once a year on November 1. Prices set for November 1, 2026:

These are electricity prices only. Your bill also includes delivery and regulatory charges and the Ontario Electricity Rebate, so the total cost per kWh is higher. TOU hours flip in summer (May 1 to October 31), when midday becomes on-peak.

Beware of door-to-door energy contracts. The OEB says fewer than one in 10 Ontario customers buy electricity from a retailer, and contract prices aren't regulated by the OEB.

Heat and air conditioning rules

City of Toronto bylaw requires landlords to keep rental units at a minimum of 21°C from October 1 to May 15. If a landlord provides air conditioning, it must run from June 1 to September 30 to keep the unit at no more than 26°C. If heat is your landlord's responsibility and your unit is cold, tell them in writing, and call 311 if it isn't fixed.

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, it's an offence for a landlord to withhold or interfere with vital services, including heat, electricity, natural gas, fuel and hot or cold water. Air conditioning isn't a vital service. If your building has suite meters, it's also an offence for a landlord to start charging you for electricity, or stop supplying it, without your consent. The province's Rental Housing Enforcement Unit deals with these offences.

How to split bills between roommates

Pick a method, write it into your roommate agreement, and stick to it.

• Equal split. Simplest and works for most homes.
• Per-person split for variable bills. Hydro and gas split by the number of people actually living there, which helps when a partner is staying over a lot (see our guest rules guide).
• Weighted split. Someone with a much larger room, a home office running all day, or a private space heater pays a bigger share.

Practical rules:

• One person per account; spread the accounts around so no one carries all the risk.
• The account holder posts each bill in the group chat within a few days.
• Everyone pays their share within a set time, for example seven days.
• Settle final bills when someone moves out, including any final meter reading.

For splitting rent itself, see how to split rent fairly.

Ways to save

• Choose the right price plan. Toronto Hydro customers on the Regulated Price Plan can choose TOU, ULO or Tiered. ULO only pays off if you can shift a lot of use to overnight and avoid the 4 to 9 p.m. weekday on-peak.
• Shift big loads like laundry and the dishwasher to off-peak hours, without breaking your house's quiet hours.
• Seal drafts around windows and doors and ask your landlord about fixing gaps.
• Watch space heaters. Electric heaters running all day can drive up a winter bill quickly.
• Check assistance programs. The OEB's Ontario Electricity Support Program gives eligible lower-income households an ongoing monthly credit on their electricity bill, including some people billed by sub-meter companies. The OEB also lists emergency help for households behind on bills.
• Bundle smartly. For internet, check the price after the promo ends, not just the first-year rate.

When you're comparing places, a rental with utilities included can be worth more than it looks. Our guide to the cost of renting a room in Toronto shows how to compare total monthly costs.

Find a place where the costs are clear

On ColivEase, every listing is reviewed by a person, and you can ask the lister what's included in chat before applying. Browse rooms and homes on ColivEase.

Bottom line

Read section 6 of your lease, confirm which accounts are yours, and set them up before move-in. Hydro comes from Toronto Hydro or a sub-meter company, gas from Enbridge, water from the City through the owner, and internet from whoever you choose. Split bills by a written rule, and pick the electricity plan that matches how your household actually uses power.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact the Landlord and Tenant Board or a community legal clinic.