The cost to run a NAS in Ontario
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated · Prices checked A NAS drawing 40 W around the clock uses about 350 kWh a year, which costs about CA$44 a year on Ontario's time-of-use plan: an hour-weighted 12.62¢/kWh, because a 24/7 load pays every price period. On Ultra-Low Overnight the same NAS costs about CA$49 (13.89¢/kWh weighted), and on Tiered about CA$42 while your home stays under the tier threshold. Electricity charge only; delivery and regulatory charges are extra.
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The calculator is pre-set to Ontario; the rate is editable, and its source and dates are shown under it.
156 kWh/year · 18 W average at the wall
Electricity charge only: 156 kWh × 12.62¢. Delivery, regulatory charges and taxes not included.
The same NAS costs about CA$8.65/year more here than in Quebec (7.065¢/kWh): the cheapest place in Canada to run it.
A UPS adds a few percent loss but protects against the far costlier unclean shutdown. Annual figures use your current rate, drive count and active hours.
Time-of-use, weighted for a load that never switches off
The Ontario Energy Board's Regulated Price Plan sets three time-of-use prices: 9.8¢/kWh off-peak (weekdays 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and all day on weekends and holidays), 15.7¢ mid-peak and 20.3¢ on-peak (six hours each on weekdays; which hours depends on the season). A dishwasher can wait for off-peak. A NAS cannot, so it pays each price for the hours that price applies.
In 2026 that is 5,748 off-peak hours, 1,506 mid-peak and 1,506 on-peak, which works out to 12.62¢/kWh. The calculator above uses that weighted figure as its default, shows the formula, and lets you type your own rate. A 40 W NAS (350 kWh a year) comes to about CA$44; a lean 25 W two-bay box about CA$28; a 60 W six-bay array about CA$66.
Ultra-Low Overnight: cheaper nights, a steep evening
The ULO plan charges 3.9¢/kWh every night from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., 9.8¢ on weekend and holiday daytimes, 15.7¢ on weekday daytimes, and 39.1¢ on weekdays from 4 to 9 p.m. Weighted over every hour of the year, a constant load pays about 13.89¢/kWh, a little more than time-of-use. So ULO does not save money on the NAS itself; it pays off only if your household moves large loads (an EV, laundry) into the overnight window. Run both rates through the calculator if you are deciding.
What the figure includes, and how to cut it
These are electricity (energy) charges only: delivery, regulatory charges, the fixed daily or monthly charge and taxes are not included, and the fixed charges are not caused by the NAS, so they are not spread over it.
The levers are the same as anywhere: fewer, larger drives (each spinning drive adds roughly 40 to 50 kWh a year), drive spin-down only if the NAS genuinely idles, and an efficient NAS. OEB prices change each November 1; the calculator shows the date the default took effect and flags it once it is due for a re-check.
Compare with other provinces
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a NAS 24/7 in Ontario?
About CA$44 a year for a NAS drawing 40 W around the clock (350 kWh), at the hour-weighted time-of-use price of 12.62¢/kWh. That is the electricity charge only; delivery and regulatory charges are extra. Enter your model and drive count in the calculator for your own figure.
Should I put my NAS on Ontario's ULO rate?
Not for the NAS alone. Weighted over every hour, a constant load pays about 13.89¢/kWh on ULO against 12.62¢ on time-of-use, because the 39.1¢ weekday evening price outweighs the 3.9¢ nights. ULO wins only when other big loads, such as EV charging, already run overnight.
Does running a NAS at night save money in Ontario?
No. A NAS runs continuously, so it cannot move its use into cheap hours the way a dishwasher can. It pays the hour-weighted price, 12.62¢/kWh on time-of-use.
What are Ontario's current electricity prices?
The OEB's prices from November 1, 2025 are 9.8¢, 15.7¢ and 20.3¢/kWh on time-of-use; 3.9¢, 9.8¢, 15.7¢ and 39.1¢ on Ultra-Low Overnight; and 12¢ for the first tier on Tiered. They are the electricity line only. The OEB resets them each November 1.
Devin Chua works out which drives, RAM and NVMe cache fit which NAS model at nasdrives.ca, and what the RAID choice means for usable capacity, checked against what is in stock on Amazon.ca.
Data checked by Owen Nakamura, Technical editor (data checking)