Just in time for summer air conditioning season – electricity rates are going up.

Time-of-use prices will leap half-a-cent: to 18 cents a kilowatt hour for weekday peak periods – starting May 1st.

The rates are up a bit less for mid-peak periods: at 13.2 cents a kwh.

Off peak rates for evenings, overnight and all day weekends and holidays – are up less than half a cent : to 7.7 cents.

The Ontario Energy Board estimates the changes will add just over $3 dollars a month to the electricity line on the average monthly hydro bill – for a household using 750 kwh a month.

The board sets rates every six months – with changes every May and November.