United Way phones ring off the hook as winter utility disconnection moratorium ends

The Grey Bruce United Way is overwhelmed with requests for financial assistance as utilities are disconnected for non-payment. Scott Miller explains.

On Friday, hundreds of Ontarians will be getting a letter in the mail that say their heat and/or hydro, will be disconnected because of non-payment.

“This absolutely happens. It’s a regular practice. There is nothing to stop utility companies from disconnecting for nonpayment between May 1 and November,” said Francesca Dobbyn, executive director with the United Way of Bruce-Grey.

The winter utility disconnection moratorium ends Friday, which means people have been calling the United Way’s Utility Assistance Program non-stop this week.

“Our phone here at the United Way has been ringing off the hook from people looking for further assistance. Many have already accessed the provincial Low Energy Assistance Program for 2026, but it hasn’t been enough to negate the bill,” said Dobbyn.

Dobbyn says the United Way of Bruce-Grey spends nearly $250,000 each year helping people pay their utility bills. In the first few months of this year, more than $35,000 has gone out the door.

“We’ve already spent about $17,000 more this year, in the first four months of 2026, versus what we spent in 2025. And, then when we look at what we spent in all of 2025 versus 2024, we spent over $55,000 more just helping people with their utilities in 2025, than we did in 2024,” she said.

After going into deficit last year, Dobbyn says the United Way can only cover up to $700 for overdue oil, propane, or wood bills. Provincial or utility specific programs can cover overdue natural gas and electricity bills.

Dobbyn says the United Way cannot go into deficit again covering people’s utility bills.

“How do you tell somebody, ‘No, I’m sorry, you will be disconnected. No, I’m sorry you will be cold,’ because we just simply do not have the money to pay that bill for you,” she said.

While Dobbyn says all donations to their Utility Assistance Program do help people, it’s still just a band-aid on a societal issue that is seeing more people fall into poverty, as the cost of everything soars.

“We’re seeing this snowball effect of people running out of employment insurance, suddenly on Ontario Works going, ‘Wait, I get $733 to pay all the bills, pay the rent, feed my kids?’ That’s it. And that’s when they’re at our doorstep in complete and utter crisis,” she said.