Hefty hydro bills have made it an expensive summer for many in southern Ontario. And with more warm weather predicted for September, the costs likely will keep adding up.

It's got some people facing tough choices.

Elfriede Gutri keeps her hydro bills in a stack. The 85-year-old often sits in the dark to save money. Her usage has mostly stayed the same, but her hydro costs keep going up. She's coping as best as she can.

"I can still manage, that's the way I see it, I have still my food everyday ... and so far I pay all the bills."

Air conditioning can make up 50 per cent of a homeowner's hydro bill in the summer, according to Toronto Hydro. This summer has seen 26 "high demand" days, compared to nine last year. (CBC) Not everyone can.

The United Way says some are being forced to choose between paying for groceries or their hydro bill. They call it energy poverty.

Toronto Hydro says the hefty bills are due to this summer's extreme heat. Last year there were only nine of what the company calls "high demand" days — ones with over 4,000 megawatts of demand. This summer, there have been 26.

"The weather really tells the story here," says Toronto Hydro spokesperson Tori Gass. "Last year it was quite cool; this year it was hot, and it was hot early."

Gass says people often don't realize how significant an impact the weather can have on their energy bills. "Air conditioning can account for up to 50 per cent of your summer energy cost," she says. The same spikes occur in very cold winters.

It isn't just homeowners: businesses are wrestling with higher bills as well.

Ashley Wittig owns a bakery in Kensington Market. She's hoping to avoid raising prices, and says a lot of customers don't realize the impact higher hydro bills can have on businesses, and food-based businesses in particular. (CBC)

Inside Bunner's Bakeshop in Kensington Market the ovens are humming and shelves are filled with cupcakes and cookies.

The air conditioning is on, but sparingly.

The bakery has seen its hydro bill jump by about $100 a month compared to last summer, says owner Ashley Wittig. She doesn't want to raise prices or cut worker shifts, but says she may not have a choice. "For us, we can't bake less, we can't have the ovens on less, we can't turn the lights off, things need to be refrigerated,"

Wittig says it's a particular challenge for food businesses. "A lot of people don't realize when they come into a bakery or any food place — they might see a cupcake and think about the ingredients and the cost of ingredients, but they're not thinking about the cost of the staff, the cost of the hydro ... things like that."

Toronto Hydro spokesperson Tori Gass encourages people to take energy-conserving measures, such as ensuring windows are properly insulated, to help keep their bills in check. (CBC)

Toronto Hydro hasn't implemented any special programs for people dealing with unexpectedly large bills, but Gass advises anyone who is struggling to call the customer support line to see if their payment schedule can be adjusted.

She also says it's a good opportunity for people to look at how they use energy, and whether there are ways they can reduce their use, such as ensuring windows are properly sealed and implementing basic climate control strategies, like keeping blinds closed in summer and open in winter.