United Way of Bruce Grey is reminding residents that electricity rates change to summer time-of-use hours this week.
The on-peak hours now run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and mid-peak runs from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., a reversal of the winter time-of-use hours.
Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director of United Way Grey Bruce, says this notice is part of their efforts to help families deal with the rising costs of living.
"We'd just like to raise awareness of this shift so people can make decisions around their electricity use, reminding people that if you've got to do laundry or anything that's really intensive for electricity, just do it in the evenings," she said.
Off-peak hours run from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, and all day on weekends and statutory holidays.
Not only does May signal the annual shift of peak time-of-use hours to the middle of the day, Dobbyn says it also ends a ban on companies disconnecting clients who are behind on payments.
"We have a winter connection ban, you can't be disconnected from your electricity or natural gas between the 15th of November right through to the 30th of April," she said. "So if you have arrears with your utility companies, they can start disconnecting you from those utilities if you haven't made arrangements to cover off those outstanding bills."
Dobbyn advises anyone who is struggling with bills to call the company and talk to them.
"Ghosting them gets you disconnected," she said. "Talking them and telling them what's going on, they know all about the programs that are out there throughout the province and can refer people to them."
She encourages anyone who is behind on electricity payments to contact 211, as they also offer resources available to help.