TORONTO — More than eight per cent of Ontario households were in arrears with their electricity bills at the end of 2015, owing more than $172.5 million.
The Ontario Energy Board reports 566,902 homes were in arrears last year, 263 fewer customers than were behind in their electricity bills at the end of 2014.
The board says any account that is 30 or more days past the 16-day minimum payment period is considered to be in arrears.
Hydro One Networks, the electricity distribution arm of Ontario’s giant transmission utility, was owed $105,583,215 by 225,952 customers who were in arrears, which is up more than 1,750 households from 2014.
Toronto Hydro had the second largest number of clients in arrears, with 60,528 households owing $13,194,511 last year.
The Ministry of Energy says there are about 4.6 million residential electricity customers, or households, in Ontario.