United Way advises that winter disconnection moratorium ends tomorrow

The United Way of Bruce Grey is reminding residents that the provincial electricity and natural gas disconnection moratoriums will end tomorrow (April 30), with utilities permitted to begin disconnecting customers for non-payment as of May 1.

“We’re already experiencing extremely high call volumes, with our phones ringing off the hook from residents who have received disconnection notices this week, for next week," says executive director Francesca Dobbyn. "It highlights the urgency of the situation many are facing.”

As this transition approaches, customers who may be at risk of disconnection, are encouraged to act early and explore available financial assistance programs.
 

• Hydro One and other company customers should call the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) at 855-487-5327
• Westario Power customers should call Bruce County Housing at 1-800-265-3022

Applications for customers who have already been disconnected will be prioritized by LEAP.

In situations where the amount required to reconnect service exceeds the available grant funding, customers will be required to make an initial payment toward their outstanding balance. Once this payment is made, a LEAP grant can be applied to help facilitate re-connection.

Customers who have received a disconnection notice, may also request a temporary hold on their service disconnection from LEAP or the United Way of Bruce Grey, while applications are being processed. However, it is important to note that:
 

• Hold requests must be submitted to the utility, by the program agency before the start of the 14-day disconnection notice period
• Utilities may decline hold requests if the outstanding balance exceeds the maximum LEAP grant amount
• Hold requests are not guaranteed, and approval is at the discretion of the utility

Due to increased demand, provincial program call volumes are currently high, and longer wait times are expected to continue through the summer months. Customers who are unable to remain on hold are encouraged to request a call-back option, where available.

The United Way strongly encourages those who may be struggling to pay their electricity bills to reach out early, understand their options, and access available supports before disconnection occurs. Generally, once a disconnection has occurred, the utility requires 80 per cent of the outstanding balance to be paid prior to re-connection.

“Last year, we stretched to meet demand, providing $55,000 more in utility support than we have available this year, which resulted in a $42,000 deficit for the United Way in 2025," says Dobbyn. "We cannot take on that level of financial risk again, and we cannot keep pace with this growing need on our own."

To date in 2026, the United Way of Bruce Grey’s Utility Assistance Program has provided $34,206 in support for furnace oil, propane, and cord wood — an increase of 72 per cent compared to the same period in 2025 ($19,871). In November 2025, the United Way was forced to exclude electricity and natural gas applications due to financial pressures, the availability of provincial programs and the winter moratorium on disconnections.

“The calls we’ve received this week indicate that disconnection notices have already gone out," says Dobbyn. "Many individuals have exhausted LEAP and other provincial programs in 2026 and are now turning to us for additional support. The reality is, we don’t yet know where that help will come from."

For more information about available assistance programs, including LEAP, utility customers can call 211.