Indigenous Relations

The Hydro One Indigenous Entrepreneurship Grant

We're proud to partner with Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) to deliver the Hydro One Indigenous Entrepreneurship Grant for a third year in a row.

Ten Indigenous-owned businesses received grants of $7,500 each along with a CCAB membership, investing in their prosperity and success.

Meet the 2023 recipients

Announcing an Industry-Leading Equity Partnership Model with First Nations

In 2022, Hydro One announced an industry leading Equity Partnership Model that offers First Nations a 50 per cent equity stake in all new, future large-scale capital transmission line projects with a value exceeding $100 million. Already, Hydro One and nine First Nations partners have entered into agreements which provide them with the opportunity to invest in the Waasigan Transmission Line, under development for northwest Ontario.

We are developing five more new transmission lines using the new Equity Partnership Model with First Nations communities to power industry and job creation. We remain committed to true partnership, and to increasing the goods and services we purchase from Indigenous businesses.

Waasigan Transmision Line Read News Release

Proud sponsor of the Little NHL

We're proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the 50th Annual Little Native Hockey League (NHL) tournament held in Markham March 11-14, 2024.

Learn more

photo of recipients of the 2022 Hydro One Indigenous Entrepreneurship Grant and Hydro One representatives at an announcement event at Fort William First Nation on December 7, 2022

Meet Maamigin Environmental & Relations Inc.

A recipient of the 2022 Hydro One Indigenous Entrepreneurship Grant

For a second year in a row, we’re proud to support Ontario-based Indigenous businesses with the Hydro One Indigenous Entrepreneurship Grant.

In partnership with Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), this program helps to further empower Indigenous-owned businesses, investing in their prosperity and success.

“At Maamigin Environmental & Relations Inc., we want to be the leading environmental management company in northwest Ontario. This support from Hydro One and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business signifies a massive step towards realizing that goal,” said Brian Ludwigsen, President, Maamigin Environmental & Relations Inc. “As an Indigenous-owned and operated company, we are so thrilled to have been selected as a recipient of the Hydro One Indigenous Entrepreneurship Grant. We will use the grant to expand our marketing and begin to scale our business throughout northwest Ontario and beyond.”

– Brian Ludwigsen, CEO & Founder, Maamigin Environmental & Relations Inc.

To learn more about the grants and the 2022 recipients, read the news release.

Learn more

Investing in Indigenous Communities

We’re committed to increasing our Indigenous procurement spend to 5% of the company’s purchases of materials and services by 2026.

Photo of a rocky cliff along the edge of a lake

First Nations Delivery Credit/HST Exemption

Apply to save the delivery charge and/or HST on your electricity bill with our online form — just have your Hydro One Account and Status ID numbers handy.

Apply Now

2019 Mandamin Award ceremony that took place on June 18, 2019

2019 Mandamin Award Recipients

Hydro One congratulates the 20 recipients of our Leonard S. (Tony) Mandamin Award, a scholarship with the possibility of paid work terms given to First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit students enrolled at a recognized college or university.

Learn more and watch the video

Our Indigenous Relations Policy

Hydro One is committed to working with Indigenous peoples in a spirit of cooperation and shared responsibility. We acknowledge that Indigenous peoples have unique historic and cultural relationships with their land and a unique knowledge of the natural environment. Forging meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples based upon trust, confidence, and accountability is vital to achieving our corporate objectives. Hydro One recognizes distinctions between and among First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation.

Download our Indigenous Relations Policy

Indigenous Participation in Projects

Hydro One offers opportunities to Indigenous communities to participate in projects. As an example, Indigenous communities can identify monitors with minimum qualification and training to participate at project sites in Archaeological or Natural Environment Studies, but there are three key conditions. Monitors must have Liability Insurance and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage, as well as a written Agreement.

Download Important Information for Project Participation

Career Opportunities

First Nations, Métis and Inuit employees are an important part of our workforce. We recruit for positions throughout the year, both for professionals as well as students. Our Summer Student Outreach program designates a portion of summer student positions for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. The program is four months long and applicants must be attending a post-secondary institution and be scheduled to return in the fall. Postings are available in the spring.

Interested in joining our team? Visit our Careers section, or search and apply for job opportunities online.

For more information, email Aboriginal.Recruitment@HydroOne.com.

Customer Benefits

Tax exemption

You are exempt from paying the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) if you are a First Nations person living on a reserve, provincial government office, Band-empowered school, hospital or Social Service entity. In order to receive this exemption, please fill out our exemption form or contact our Customer Communications Centre at 1.888.664.9376 and provide your Certificate of Indian Status card number.

Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER)

The OER is a provincial rebate equal to 13.1 per cent of the base invoice before HST that's applied to most residential customers, farms and many small businesses bills as a separate line item (as of November 1, 2024).

We have developed the below profiles to help customers see how these relief measures will impact their bill.

Average First Nations Residential Medium Density (1,150 kWh per month)
2024 Charges	Charges before Customer Benefits	Charges after Customer Benefits	Savings
Electricity	$128.05	$128.05	$0
Delivery	$102.80	$0.00	$102.80*
Regulatory	$7.55	$7.55	$0
Taxes	$0.00	$0.00	$0
OER		($17.76)	$17.76
Total Monthly Savings		$120.56

* Savings include Distribution Rate Protection, First Nations Delivery Credit and the Ontario Electricity Rebate.

Average First Nations Residential Low Density (1,150 kWh per month)
2024 Charges	Charges before Customer Benefits	Charges after Customer Benefits	Savings
Electricity	$128.05	$128.05	$0
Delivery	$129.47	$0.00	$129.47*
Regulatory	$7.75	$7.75	$0
Taxes	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
OER		($17.78)	$17.78
Total Monthly Savings		$147.25

* Charges before Customer benefits includes Rural or Remote Rate Protection Credit. Savings include Distribution Rate Protection, First Nations Delivery Credit and the Ontario Electricity Rebate.