2. Learn the rules about extending or renewing your contract

You can extend or renew your energy contract only if the original contract says you can.

If the original contract does not say anything, then you cannot extend or renew your energy contract. Instead, you have to sign a new contract if you want to continue to buy electricity from the same energy retailer.

Energy retailers are not allowed to extend or renew a contract without your permission. If you do not extend or renew your energy contract, you will automatically get your energy services from your local distribution company when your contract ends.

There are rules you and the energy retailer must follow to extend or renew your energy contract.

Getting the extension or renewal package

The energy retailer must send you a renewal or extension package. You must receive the package between 60 and 120 days before your contract ends.

That package must include a copy of the extended or renewed energy contract. If the renewal or extension is for a contract that you first signed before January 1, 2011, the extended or renewed contract must include certain rights to cancel the extended or renewed contract without cost or penalty.

The package must also include:

• two copies of the extension or renewal form that describes any changes to your current energy contract
• a Disclosure Statement with important information about energy contracts from the Ontario Energy Board
• Price Comparisons for electricity

The extension or renewal forms must have:

• a description of any changes to your contract,
• instructions to renew or extend the contract, and
• somewhere to sign if you do not want to extend or renew the contract

Agreeing to the extension or renewal package

If you want to extend or renew your energy contract, you must let the energy retailer know that you agree to the terms in the extension or renewal form, the Disclosure Statement, and the Price Comparison(s). You can:

• sign these documents and send them back to the energy retailer by email or mail,
• sign these documents on the energy retailer's website, or
• telling the energy retailer over the phone.

If you extend or renew your contract over the phone, the energy retailer must tell you information about your contract required by the Ontario Energy Board. And they must record the call. If you ask for a copy of the recording, the retailer must send it to you within 10 days.