EZSMART Corporation, ESA/ECRA #7012690 , North York , Ontario
Mon-Fri 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
You open your Toronto Hydro or Alectra bill and the number is 40% higher than last month. Nothing obvious has changed — no new appliances, no new occupants. If your electric bill is suddenly so high, the extra kilowatt-hours are almost always coming from one of six familiar places, and most are things you can identify and fix in a single afternoon.
These are the causes we see, in rough order of frequency across GTA homes. First, weather — a cold snap or heat wave adds heavy HVAC hours and Toronto Hydro time-of-use rates hit hardest during peak periods. Second, a hidden device left running: a garage space heater, a portable air conditioner in a spare room, an aquarium heater. Third, a failing appliance — especially a fridge or dehumidifier whose compressor is running nearly continuously because seals or refrigerant are failing. Fourth, an EV charger drawing 30 to 48 amps for hours each night. Fifth, a hot water tank on “vacation mode” that got reset to a much higher setpoint. Sixth, a rate reclassification by your utility.
Log into your utility portal and pull the hourly usage graph for the last 60 days. Look for two patterns: a flat plateau that jumped suddenly (a device switched on and stayed on) or a growing baseline (an appliance losing efficiency over time). A plateau jump on a specific date usually matches something you can remember doing. A gradual creep is almost always the fridge, freezer, dehumidifier, or hot water tank aging out. Toronto Hydro even provides free in-home displays that make this analysis instant.
Bad wiring rarely shows up as extra kWh — a poor connection wastes some heat, but not enough to notice on a bill. Where the electrical side does matter is EV charging and heat pumps: an undersized panel forces devices into inefficient reduced-charge modes, and a marginal breaker can trip a heat pump into resistance backup, which is three times more expensive to run. If you have added an EV or heat pump recently, an electrical panel upgrade can lower your bill by keeping the efficient modes running full-time.
Call us if you have found no obvious cause and your bill is still climbing, if you have any older appliances you suspect but cannot test, or if you are planning an EV or heat pump install where sizing matters. A one-hour professional assessment pays for itself many times over on a mis-sized 200A service or a stuck electric baseboard.
Check every electric baseboard heater in bedrooms and basements. It is astonishing how often we find one stuck on at maximum because a curtain, mattress, or storage bin pushed against the thermostat dial. On an Ontario time-of-use tariff, one stuck 1,500W baseboard can add $60 to $90 per month before you notice.
If your electric bill is suddenly so high and nothing you have tried explains it, we will find it. Call 416-838-9006 or use our contact page.
Seasonal change (heating/cooling), new appliance, appliance malfunction, or rate change from the utility.
Read the meter over several hours with all major loads off, then with each turned on individually.
Yes. Failing water heaters, fridges, and HVAC systems often draw excess power.
Yes. Old chargers, entertainment systems, and always-on devices add up.
Yes. Utility smart meters are certified accurate. Bill spikes reflect actual usage or rate changes.
Electrician Since 2008 Journeyman Electrician Designated Master Electrician at EZSMART Corp
