1. Learn the rules energy retailers must follow

An energy retailer can send a salesperson to your home to tell you about their services. But there are rules about when the salesperson can visit your home, how they must identify themselves, and what they can say to you.

When they can visit

The salesperson can visit your home:

weekends after 10 a.m. and before 5 p.m.
weekdays after 10 a.m. and before 8 p.m.

They cannot visit your home:

weekends before 10:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m.
weekdays after 10:00 a.m. and before 8:00 p.m.
on a day that is a legal holiday in Ontario
more than 4 times a year, unless you invite them
if you have a sign outside your home saying you do not want a door-to-door salesperson to visit you

Identification

When the salesperson visits you, they must show you their business card and company identification badge. If the salesperson does not show you this, you should not speak to them or share your with them.

What they can say to you

When the salesperson visits you, they can only to tell you about their company's services.

They cannot sign you up for any services during that first visit. If they ask you to sign an agreement with them, you should not sign it. If you do sign it, the law says it is not a valid agreement.

If you want to sign up for an energy retailer's services, you should schedule an appointment with the salesperson or ask the salesperson to send you instructions in the mail or by email.

After they visit you

After the salesperson visits you, they cannot call or contact you again for 30 days unless:

you asked them to, or
you signed a contract with them and they are confirming that you want to continue with the contract.