Toronto Hydro provides several updates on topics of interest for residents including:

• Stray voltage
• Time-of-Use rates
• Peaksaver program
• Residential and Business programs
• Infrastructure and Development plans
• Winter Warmth fund

Public Safety Always a Top Priority for Toronto Hydro

Last year, Toronto Hydro discovered some instances of contact voltage and took swift action to remediate the handwells in our city sidewalks. However, as we’ve previously acknowledged, this issue is not going away.

We continue our scans using specialized trucks to detect contact voltage and are remediating or de-energizing equipment immediately if voltage is found.

To ensure pets and their owners are walking safely on city streets, Toronto Hydro recently launched a public safety campaign that includes radio and print advertising, bill communications, information on our website and letters to school boards, veterinarians, pet stores and associations.

What can the public do to protect their pets?

1. Avoid electrical equipment such as handwells on the sidewalk and step around metal covers. If possible walk closer to houses or storefronts as opposed to close to the road.
2. Walk in green areas or parks as much as possible.
3. Always walk pets on a leash so you can direct the animal around electrical equipment.
4. Use collars and leashes that are made of non-conductive material. The leash, preferably nylon, should be as dry as possible.
5. Although dog boots provide protection from snow, ice and road salt, there is no research that indicates they will safeguard pets from electrical shocks.
6. To report contact voltage, call our hotline at (416) 222-3773.

For more information or to download the campaign materials, visit our website or call (416) 542-8000.

New Time-of-Use Media Campaign

More than 300,000 customers are now paying TOU rates. The rest of the customer base will be on TOU rates by the end of March. Over 80,000 customers have already registered on Toronto Hydro’s TOU website at torontohydro.com/tou to manage their personal electricity usage.

Residential CDM Programs Continuing in 2010

Toronto Hydro customers with a central air conditioner can register for Toronto Hydro’s peaksaver program and receive a $75 credit on their bill. By signing up for peaksaver, a small device will be installed near the central air conditioner to reduce its electricity use during times of peak demand. Over 60,000 Toronto households and businesses have already joined the peaksaver community to help do their part for the environment.

Toronto Hydro customers can sign up for peaksaver by visiting our website.

Free In-home Refrigerator Pick-up

In 2010, Toronto Hydro will continue our efforts to remove old, inefficient refrigerators from the electricity grid. Toronto residents with fridges or freezers that are at least 15 years old, 10 – 27 cubic feet in size and in good working order can call 1.877.797.9473 or visit everykilowattcounts.com to schedule an appointment to have their appliance picked up from their home for free!

New Residential CDM Programs

The Great Exchange

This summer, Toronto residents are invited to take part in The Great Exchange at various retail locations throughout the city. Customers can trade in up to five incandescent light bulbs in exchange for the same number of energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use up to 75 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent light bulbs.

Keep Cool Returns

Customers can also exchange their old room air conditioners and dehumidifiers for retailer gift cards as part of the Keep Cool program. To date, we have recycled over 31,000 inefficient room air conditioners – the equivalent of taking approximately 13,000 houses off the grid!

Participating in Toronto Hydro’s conservation programs is a great way for customers to lower their electricity usage and manage their Time-of-Use bills.

Stay tuned for more details.

Take a Load Off Toronto and Get a Great Deal on a Washing Machine

This spring, Toronto Hydro will be encouraging Torontonians to purchase energy efficient washing machines through Take a Load Off Toronto – a campaign featuring a discount on energy efficient clothes washers plus a free indoor drying rack with each washer purchase.

Stay tuned to City Wise and torontohydro.com for more details about the new Take a Load Off Toronto campaign.

Continuing CDM Business Programs for 2010

Data Centre Incentive Program (DCIP)

Do companies in your ward have data centres? Help your local businesses improve their bottom line and reduce their environmental footprint at the same time.

Toronto Hydro’s Data Centre Incentive Program (DCIP) rewards companies that reduce their electricity demand in data centre operations. Incentives of up to 50 percent of the project cost will be paid to program participants, on top of the ongoing electricity savings they can enjoy.

Business Incentive Program (BIP)

Business owners and operators can also take advantage of Toronto Hydro’s Business Incentive Program (BIP) which provides financial incentives for energy efficient improvement projects such as lighting retrofits, motors, HVAC, building envelope and control systems.

For more information on these programs, please visit our website.

Power Savings Blitz – Up to $1,000 in Free Upgrades for Business

Small businesses owners! Improve your bottom line, save electricity and reduce your environmental footprint. With Power Savings Blitz, small business owners can receive up to $1,000 in energy efficient upgrades and save up to $400 annually on their electricity bills. This incentive applies to small businesses with an annual electricity demand of less than 50 kW. Sign up here.

New Co-generation Plant at Ashbridges Bay

Toronto Hydro Energy Services has received approval from City Council to build, own and operate a 10 MW co-generation plant on a parcel of land at 7 Leslie Street. The co-generation plant will utilize the biogas from the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant (ABTP) to produce both electricity and thermal energy or heat.

The project will provide renewable electricity to the grid under the Ontario Power Authority’s Feed-In Tariff program by using the biogas from the sewage treatment plant. The co-generation plant is expected to be in operation in 2011. A number of approvals and permits are still required in order to commence construction in the summer of 2010.

For more information on the proposed Co-generation Plant, please go to our website.

Offshore Wind Research

Due to winter conditions, construction work on the anemometer installation has been suspended and is expected to resume in March 2010 when wind, wave and temperature conditions are more suitable.

Construction equipment has been returned to shore and winterized. The baseplate for the anemometer has been successfully installed on the lakebed of Lake Ontario. The rock anchors and platform installation will require approximately two more weeks to complete.

Winter Warmth Program Launched on December 1

On December 1, 2009, Toronto Hydro, United Way and other Ontario utilities announced the launch of the Winter Warmth Program. As one of the founding sponsors of the program in 2004, Toronto Hydro enters its sixth season having invested over $600,000 and assisted over 1,590 families.

Winter Warmth is an initiative that helps families in need with the payment of their energy bills during the cold winter months. Winter Warmth runs until May 31, 2010.

For information on the Winter Warmth Program, call Toronto Hydro at (416) 542-8000.