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Electricity
110-120V 60HzHz
Plug types: 1) American-style with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin; 2) with just two parallel flat blades.

Canada's utilities have been undergoing privatization, and in some areas there is a choice of supplier for electricity and gas. Details of suppliers can be found in the Yellow Pages. Many companies allow you to register online for power supply. An initial deposit of $200 or more is often required from new customers, but this may be refunded after a specific time period such as a year.

Natural gas is the main source of power used for domestic heating in Canada, while hydro electricity (normally just called 'hydro') is used for lighting, cooking and electrical appliances. Fuel bills are normally sent out monthly, and many companies accept online bill payments, using a service such as epost, which is operated by Canada Post.

Fuel bills will vary significantly throughout the year, and in different parts of the country. One Vancouver-based expatriate recently reported paying a monthly average of between $60 and $300 for gas, and $85 for hydro.

In some remote areas there is no piped gas supply but bottled gas is usually available for purchase if required. Where piped gas is not available, alternative fuels usually used for heating homes and water supply are oil and wood, both delivered to homes.

Water and sewage are metered, and quarterly bills covering water supply, sewage, waste disposal and recycling are sent out by local authorities. In more remote areas, houses often have their own or a shared water supply and a septic tank for sewage.

Domestic garbage is collected once a week in most cities and towns, and many local authorities operate recycling schemes and regulate the amount of rubbish that can be collected.

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