• Money-saving coupons are available to download from torontohydro.com/conservation.  Customers can redeem coupons at participating retailers to save money on energy efficiency products like compact fluorescent light bulbs, Energy Star® qualified ceiling fans, motion sensors, dimmer switches, timers and power bars.
• Free Fridge & Freezer Pickup is available to customers with old, energy-guzzling appliances.  Customers can arrange an appointment by signing up online at torontohydro.com /pickup or by calling 1-877-797-9473.
• Heating & Cooling Incentives up to $650* are available to customers who replace  their existing heating and cooling systems with eligible energy efficient models through a participating contractor. 

For the next eight weeks, a new video, featuring one of our campaign ambassadors, will be showcased online at facebook.com/torontohydro. Each of the participants has signed up for one or more of Toronto Hydro’s energy conservation programs and has agreed to participate in a video testimonial explaining the benefits and ease of participation.

“We’re hoping this campaign will encourage our customers to adopt a new mindset when it comes to energy conservation,” said Catherine Parry, Manager, Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience, Toronto Hydro. “It’s the old adage that if you save a penny, the dollars will take care of themselves. We think that’s the right message, particularly at times like these, when very high-profile Torontonians say that saving money is an important reason for conserving energy.”

Others  taking part in Toronto Hydro’s new social media campaign include: eco-developer Tom Rand, culinary superstar Brad Long, master contractor and television celebrity Jim Caruk, newly-elected MP for Scarborough Southwest Dan Harris, and City of Toronto Councillor Shelley Carroll.

Facts:

• How it works: The first 500 Toronto Hydro TOU customers are eligible to receive a free pre-programmed power bar when they present their 2010 August/September bill at Toronto-area Walmart Canada and Sears stores or select Canadian Tire and Staples stores during the last two weekends in October while supplies last
• Collectively, the electricity savings of using 50,000 pre-programmed powers bar is equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of 300 households in
  Toronto ⁽²⁾.

Links:

For more details, program terms and conditions please visit: www.torontohydro.com/powerbar

^1. Ontario Power Authority
^2. Toronto Hydro

Even more exciting, and all in the name of conservation, Toronto Hydro facilitated the first Sock Exchange where many lonely (and sometimes abandoned) socks could find a compatible mate.  ENERGY STAR washing machines not only save water and electricity, front-loading machines may also help to reduce the occurrence of missing socks.  More than 50 lost sock-candidates were submitted by Toronto residents.  A survey with Leger Marketing¹ revealed that nine per cent of Torontonians hold on to a lonely sock for at least a year, while others (almost one in five) keep that lonely sock forever in hopes of a reunion with its ‘sole mate’.

UPDATES ON A COUPLE OF THE NEWLY MATCHED SOLE MATES – Success Stories

• Orange and Orange – Candidate 65732 and Candidate 64798512: matched since May 22.
  Have you heard?  Orange is the new black.  These two socks are a match made in heaven.  Candidate 65732 through no fault of its own was single and had been for over a year – with its slight cushioning it stood out from all other socks.  Candidate 64798512 was part towel and part sock – like Lady GaGa, there was nothing ordinary about this sock.  Together, their style is vibrant and loud, proving that even the most outrageous socks have a sole mate just waiting to be found.  

• Rough and Tumble – Candidate 5682 and Candidate 5691: matched since May 13.
  Candidate 5682 was described as dependable, tough and a lover of the great outdoors.  Candidate 5691 has seen the world and much of Ontario.  We thought these lonely socks could share their zest for life and so we suggested Joe Rockhead's Indoor Climbing Gym for their first date.  We hope their romance is as durable as their fabric.

For more information on the Take A Load Off washing machine program and the Toronto Hydro Sock Exchange: www.torontohydro.com/wash

1. Leger Marketing, using a national random sample of 1077 respondents from Leger Marketing's Web panel, this method simulates a probability sample which would yield a maximum margin of error of +-3.0%, 19 times out of 20

Pockets of Toronto’s distribution system are aging rapidly, and as a result, some areas are experiencing a higher number of power outages than average. That is why Toronto Hydro has embarked on its most ambitious capital plan in history. The utility estimates it will spend $275 million on rebuild projects in 2010 alone.

Toronto Hydro’s multi-million dollar plan is committed to rebuilding and renewing much of the infrastructure and modernizing the City’s grid for the future. Although the work benefits the local economy and the upgrades are intended to keep the lights on, the overall impacts of construction can be frustrating to residents, pedestrians and motorists.

With poweruptoronto.ca customers can now go online to learn about projects happening in their neighbourhood as well as search construction projects by City ward or postal code. The site gives Torontonians an opportunity to inquire about work happening around the City and provides customers with project timelines that are updated if a project’s completion date changes.

Other poweruptoronto.ca highlights include:

• a map of the City with a bird's eye view of construction projects in Toronto
• project-specific maps detailing streets impacted by construction
• a comprehensive glossary with electrical terms
• an overview of major initiatives in the City
• safety tips

The Big Picture

To give customers a better understanding of why this construction is required, Toronto Hydro released the first video in a PowerUp series.  Torontonians can watch animated illustrations of key construction initiatives and learn about the utility’s plans for a brighter electricity grid. To view the video, visit: poweruptoronto.ca/about 

Stay tuned for upcoming PowerUp videos and interviews on poweruptoronto.ca.

Green at heart, the owners of lil’ bean n’ green took advantage of Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited’s (“Toronto Hydro”) Power Savings Blitz incentive program.  At no cost to them, they completed a lighting retrofit in their already vibrant cafe.   Thanks to the Power Saving Blitz program, lil’ bean n’ green is expected to save almost $350 per year in electricity costs, which is equivalent to removing approximately 524 kilograms per year of harmful greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.

The Power Savings Blitz Program was developed for small businesses and individually metered buildings that have an electricity demand of 50 kW or less per month. The incentive program covers the first $1,000 of the project cost and provides energy information to realize greater electricity savings. The program focuses on efficient lighting upgrades, but more options are available such as hot water efficiency improvements and low-flow faucet aerators.

Toronto Hydro is pleased to showcase lil’ bean n’ green cafe n’ play as this month’s Customer for Conservation. The 'Customer for Conservation' program recognizes businesses that believe strongly in conservation and take action to conserve electricity in their business practices.

The conservation focused minds of the cafe don’t stop there - serious about reducing their environmental impact in other ways, they purchase local and organic products, recycle and compost what little waste is produced and have furnished the cafe using reclaimed and recycled materials.  Most of their shop is comprised of various second hand finds. 

FACTS

• Power Savings Blitz is an energy conservation program offered by Toronto Hydro-Electric System, in partnership with the Ontario Power Authority. This program provides small businesses with up to $1000 in free energy-efficient lighting and equipment upgrades.
• To date, Toronto Hydro has paid approximately $23.6  under the Power Savings Blitz Program million to cover the cost of lighting retrofits for more than 25,100 businesses in Toronto. It is estimated that this will save approximately 22.8 megawatts (MW) of electricity in Toronto.  Is the $23.6 million just the PSB spend? If so, we should be clear about that.
• Toronto Hydro's Customers for Conservation series recognizes business customers that are bridging the gap between wanting to conserve electricity and actually doing it. Customers that have participated in Toronto Hydro programs are nominated by customers or the public. To nominate a business, customers can send an email to media@torontohydro.com

SOURCE
*Toronto Hydro Peak Out Poll (2009)

• Online poll was conducted using Leger Marketing's Web panel May 7 to May 14, 2009.
• A total of 1,077 interviews were conducted with Toronto-adults, aged 18 years or older.
• Margin of error is +/- 2.9 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (“Toronto Hydro”) has found through a survey with Leger Marketing¹ that nine per cent of Torontonians hold on to a lonely sock for at least a year while others (almost one in five) keep that lonely sock forever in hopes of a reunion with its ‘sole mate’. Toronto Hydro can help customers battling the lonely sock syndrome in two ways.

Take a Load Off:  In partnership with Toronto-area The Home Depot Stores, Caplan’s Appliances and the City of Toronto, customers that purchase a new ENERGY STAR washing machine in the months of April, May, June and now JULY (2010) will receive an $80 instant rebate, a $60 mail-in rebate from the City of Toronto, plus an eco-friendly indoor drying rack (valued at $68.)  ENERGY STAR washing machines not only save water and electricity, but front-loading machines may also help to reduce the occurrence of missing socks.²

Toronto Hydro Sock Exchange: For those socks already widowed, Toronto Hydro is now offering the Sock Exchange. Toronto customers who send in a photo and brief description of their lonely sock to media@torontohydro.com will be eligible to receive a free eco-friendly indoor drying rack. All candidates will be reviewed for compatibility with other socks in the database.  Owners will be notified and matches will be posted on the website. 

For more information on both programs, go to http://www.torontohydro.com/wash

__________________________

1. Leger Marketing, using a national random sample of 1077 respondents from Leger Marketing's Web panel, this method simulates a probability sample which would yield a maximum margin of error of +-3.0%, 19 times out of 20;
2. Discussions with Bosch Canada

Take a Load Off:  In partnership with Toronto-area The Home Depot Stores, Caplan’s Appliances and the City of Toronto, customers that purchase a new ENERGY STAR washing machine in the months of April, May and June (2010) will receive an $80 instant rebate, a $60 mail-in rebate from the City of Toronto, plus an eco-friendly indoor drying rack (valued at $68.)  ENERGY STAR washing machines not only save water and electricity, front-loading machines may also help to reduce the occurrence of missing socks.2

Toronto Hydro Sock Exchange: For those socks already widowed, Toronto Hydro is now offering the Sock Exchange.  The first 100 customers who send in a photo and brief description of their lonely sock to media@torontohydro.com   will receive a free eco-friendly indoor drying rack.  All candidates will be reviewed for compatibility with other socks in the database.  Owners will be notified and matches will be posted on the website.  For more information on both programs, go to www.torontohydro.com/wash

OTHER LAUNDRY FACTS

• On average, Torontonians spend about 3 hours a week doing laundry.
• Only 19 per cent of dads/husbands are responsible for the laundry.
• Watching television is the most popular past-time while waiting for laundry to be done (61 per cent) followed by house cleaning (55 per cent) and surfing the net (53 per cent).
• Nearly half the Torontonians surveyed who are in a relationship (45 per cent) say that their spouse or partner has ruined their clothing in the wash.
• Where do the socks go?  Almost 25 per cent of Torontonians think that the missing sock has gone to a better place or that a sock gremlin has taken them.  While 49 per cent think that they are likely stuck in other clothes.
• As many as 19 per cent of Torontonians hold out hope for a lonely sock by keeping it forever, while six per cent are hasty, getting rid of it after just one week.
• Demographically, men are slightly more likely to hold on to a lonely sock for only a week (eight per cent vs. four per cent among women). 
• How long do they hold on to the sock? Six per cent hold on to the sock for one week; 18 per cent for one month; 15 per cent six months; 9 per cent for one year and 19 per cent hold on to that sock forever.
• The clothes washer promotion and Toronto Hydro Sock Exchange is valid from April 1, 2010 until June 30, 2010.
• According to the survey, eight per cent of Torontonians are are planning on or thinking about buying a new washer and dryer in the next three months.
• Clothes dryers account for 15 per cent of household appliance consumption.3   
• ENERGY STAR qualified washing machines use at least 30 per cent less electricity than other washers.3   They also use up to 50 per cent less water and the combined water and electricity savings can total almost $68 a year.  As well, if customers use a clothes drying rack even just a quarter of the time (instead of a dryer), they could save another $21 a year. 
• Running a tap for five minutes can use as much energy as leaving a 60-watt light bulb burning for 14 hours.4
• Through its conservation and demand management programs, Toronto Hydro has achieved savings of 121,456 MWh bringing its total savings to approximately 655,010 MWh since the start of its programs in 2005.

Who hasn’t shut the elevator door on someone to avoid the awkward conversation during the ride? Or madly pushed the ‘close door’ button to save time wasted by stopping on different floors? According to Toronto Hydro-Electric System’s (“Toronto Hydro”) 2009 Peak Out Poll, about 70 per cent of those surveyed say they’ve never closed the elevator door on someone but almost as many people say it’s been done to them. Six-in-ten surveyed say they’ve had the elevator door closed on them when the person saw them coming. An elevator can account for up to 10 per cent of a building’s energy consumption, so holding that door can help to cut electricity consumption.

In early or working late? Approximately 16 per cent of those surveyed say co-workers leave their lights on to make people think they’re in early or working late. And two-in-ten say their co-workers leave the computer on to make it look like they’re in the office.

Thirty-four per cent of people surveyed confess to leaving the computer on overnight to save time. Even more (38 per cent) say their co-workers are guilty of this common energy-wasting offence.

Toronto Hydro is urging customers to mind their energy manners and to improve their daily habits. Toronto Hydro says the best place for workers to start shifting behaviour is at their desks. Daylight savings time means longer days and more time spent in the workplace to avoid the winter weather. Here are some tips for the darker, colder months:

1. As the days get shorter and you turn on your desk lamp more often for lighting, ensure it’s stocked with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), not an energy-guzzling incandescent. Turn it off when you’re not using it.
2. No matter how much time you think it saves you in the morning, turn off your computer before you leave for the day.
3. Turn off equipment that isn’t used regularly like fax machines, photocopiers and printers.
4. Lastly, hold the elevator for your colleagues to save unnecessary trips. Or better yet, take the stairs to work off that hot chocolate.

QUOTES

“When it comes to energy conservation, there are always ways to shift our behaviour for the better,” says Blair Peberdy, Chief Conservation Officer, Toronto Hydro Corporation.

“Often times, little actions at the office translate into huge electricity savings. We’re urging customers to take accountability for their conservation conduct at work.”

FACTS

• Turn off your monitor when not in use, even if it’s just for 15 minutes - the monitor uses up to 75 per cent of the energy powering your computer.****
• CFL bulbs use 75 per cent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
• Turn off photocopiers during off-hours. Operating photocopy equipment efficiently will reduce energy use by 25% or more.****
• Printers and other office machines can idle as much as 90% of the workday and are often left running at night and on weekends. In many businesses, this simple change can achieve big savings.****
• The most energy-efficient computer/monitor combination is a laptop unit. Laptops use a maximum of 15 watts (compared with 80 to 160 watts for desktop PCs) and automatically power down (go into sleep mode) after several minutes of inactivity (figures from a 2002 study).**
• The Peak Out Poll was conducted online using Leger Marketing’s Web panel from May 7 to 14, 2009.***
• Seven-in-ten state they’ve never tried to close the elevator doors when they’ve seen someone coming.
• Six-in-ten have had someone close the elevator door on them; women are statistically more likely to have had someone close the elevator door on them.
• One-third admit to leaving their computer on overnight to save time in the morning.
• Sixteen per cent say co-workers leave their light on to make people think they’re in early or working late.
• Twenty per cent say their co-workers leave their computers on to make it look like they’re in the office.
• Thirty-eight per cent say their co-workers leave their computer on instead of shutting it down to save time in the morning.
  

LINKS

For conservation tips and information on Toronto Hydro programs for residential and business customers go www.torontohydro.com.

** Natural Resources Canada
*** A total of 1,077 interviews were conducted with Toronto-adults, aged 18 years or older; using a random sample of respondents, this method simulates a probability sample, which would yield a maximum margin of error of +-2.9%, 19 times out of 20.
**** BC Hydro

Business owners who are looking for ways to manage their electricity costs in the wake of a slowing economy should take advantage of the POWER SAVINGS BLITZ program, delivered by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (“Toronto Hydro”).  To date, Toronto Hydro has paid $7.1 million to cover the costs of lighting retrofits for more than 7,000 city businesses. Toronto Hydro estimates that the retrofits completed to date will save a total of 6.4 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The program will continue through 2009.

Designed for small businesses, churches and faith-based buildings, NGO’s, and government buildings that have individual meters and use less than 50 kilowatts of electricity, Power Savings Blitz is the first electricity conservation program in Ontario to take into account the specific needs of small businesses.

One customer who recently signed up for the Power Savings Blitz program is local flower shop owner, Livia Cao, whose establishment is located on Broadview Avenue near Danforth Avenue. Broadview Flower Market is open seven days a week; from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with multiple overhead fluorescent lights that are on from the store’s opening to closing.

The Power Savings Blitz program begins with an assessment, it’s free of charge and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Based on the assessment, a list of possible energy-efficient upgrades is presented to the business owner. Toronto Hydro will pay the first $1,000 for energy-efficient lighting and water heating enhancements, with absolutely no financial obligation for the business owner. All work is performed by licensed electricians under contract to Toronto Hydro and the work is guaranteed for one year.

QUOTES

“We struggle with our electricity bill because it takes so much electricity to run our business,” said Ms. Cao.  “This new program will help a lot. When the assessor came in to the store, he talked to us about switching our lights to the more energy-efficient kind and gave us tips on other ways to save. We estimate that we’ll save about $40 on our electricity bill each month. It doesn’t sound like much, but it all adds up. In this economy, every little bit helps.”

FACTS

• In Toronto there are approximately 65,000 small business customers.
• In some cases, small businesses could save up to $400 a year as a result of implementing simple energy retrofits.
• Business owners who wish to participate in the program and have not been contacted yet by Toronto Hydro can call 416-599-9210 to arrange for a licensed energy assessor to visit their establishment.  More information on the program can be found at www.torontohydro.com/savingsblitz
• In addition to the Power Savings Blitz program, Toronto Hydro also developed and successfully administers the peaksaver® demand reduction program and the Business Incentive Program for business customers, as well as several conservation and demand management (CDM) programs for residential customers including: peaksaver®, Take a Load Off Toronto®, Keep Cool®, Festive Lighting Exchange and Another Bright Idea®.
• Since it began implementing CDM programs in support of the Province’s goal of creating a ‘conservation culture’ in Ontario, Toronto Hydro has reduced demand in the City of Toronto by approximately 386 megawatts and helped customers save an estimated 549,411,459 kilowatt-hours.

-30-

Links:     www.torontohydro.com/savingsblitz (video is available in English and Cantonese)

Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited is the regulated "wires" affiliate and is one of the largest municipal electric distribution utilities in Canada, delivering electricity to a broadly diverse, economically robust, residential, commercial and industrial customer base in the City of Toronto. The utility serves more than 688,000 customers.

Certain portions of this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information means disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action or attributable to third parties. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "plan" and similar expressions or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although the Corporation believes that it has a reasonable basis for the forward-looking information included in the press release, such information is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual events, conditions or results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking information. Some of the factors that could cause such differences include legislative or regulatory developments; financial market conditions, general economic conditions and the ratings assigned to the corporation or its affiliates or their debt securities by rating agencies. The corporation has no obligation nor any intention to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking information included in the press release after the date thereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

For further information:
Tanya Bruckmueller
tbruckmueller-wilson@torontohydro.com
W: (416) 542-2621
C: (416) 903-0440

OTHER FRIDGE TRIVIA – results from the annual Peak Out Poll

• Three per cent believe that the fridge light stays on when the door is shut, especially men.
• In the back up fridge, 74 per cent have food; soft drinks and beer come in second place – 65 per cent and 52 per cent respectively.
• Two per cent store nail polish and crazy glue in their second fridge.
• When asked whether they would give up junk food, cigarettes, booze, hanky panky, or TV – 42 per cent would rather give up their second fridge. This is particularly true with women, those who have children and white collar workers.

FACTS

• The Fridge Pick-Up program is offered in partnership with the Ontario Power Authority. To qualify, full-sized fridges and freezers must be 10-27 cubic feet, in working condition and 15 years of age or older.
• Over 4010 fridges in Toronto have been collected in 2009, representing over 385 kW of electricity savings.
• The 17th annual Junction Arts Festival is a street celebration of the arts, located in Toronto’s west end on Dundas Street West in the Junction. The 2009 festival runs from September 9 – 13.
• Over five days, the festival presents visual, musical, literary, performance, new media and site-specific works to well over 150,000 people and on the weekend it transforms Dundas Street West into a pedestrian-only, urban cultural destination.
• The Peak Out Poll was conducted online using Leger Marketing's Web panel May 7 to 14, 2009.
• A total of 1,077 interviews were conducted with Toronto-adults, aged 18 years or older.
• Margin of error is +/- 2.9 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Certain portions of this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information means disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action or attributable to third parties. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "plan" and similar expressions or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although the Corporation believes that it has a reasonable basis for the forward-looking information included in the press release, such information is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual events, conditions or results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking information. Some of the factors that could cause such differences include legislative or regulatory developments; financial market conditions, general economic conditions and the ratings assigned to the corporation or its affiliates or their debt securities by rating agencies. The corporation has no obligation nor any intention to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking information included in the press release after the date thereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.