Bills that fluctuate are difficult to plan for and can be difficult to pay. One strategy I recommend to people is equal billing for utility bills. I’ll talk more about that in the second half of this post.

But first, Enbridge Gas has a program called the Golden Age Service for those 65 and older. This program gives you the option of paying your monthly gas bill when you receive your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) cheque with no late payment penalty charge. It is the second drop-down menu on the link below. Signing up for the Golden Age Service and the Equal Monthly Payment Plan may help make keeping up on your gas bill a bit easier.

If you are not comfortable navigating online sign-ups, give the supplier a call directly. You can ask about setting up a payment plan or paying once your OAS/CPP comes in. Most suppliers will work with you; you just have to reach out.

Having Payment Difficulties | Ontario | Enbridge Gas

Now, to get to equal billing plans. Having a set cost each month makes it easier to plan for and pay a bill. Utility companies recognize this and offer this option.

In general, these plans help you spread energy costs evenly throughout the year. This avoids seasonal spikes in costs.

• The company uses your billing history to determine an average budget billing amount.
• You then make that payment monthly.
• The company reassesses throughout the year to make sure the amount is accurate to your current usage.
• At the end of the 12 months, your usage and your payments are reviewed, and you either get a credit if you overpaid or the outstanding charges are applied to your bill.

Some equal billing plans will reconcile in August, so you can check your bill for any differences.

Each company has a different name for it, and the details may vary, so look at the link below or contact your utility company for more detailed information.

Hydro One – Budget Billing
https://www.hydroone.com/myaccount/budget-billing-signup

Enbridge Gas – Equal Monthly Payment Plan
https://www.enbridgegas.com/ontario/my-account/equal-monthly-payment-plan

Westario Power Inc. – Equalized Payment Plan
https://westario.com/residential/billing-and-payments/
(halfway down the website page)

Some oil and propane suppliers also have plans that spread the cost throughout the year. Each company has different options, so please contact your supplier for more information.