Brightest Season Ever: Sixth Annual Lighting Exchange Takes Over Two
Megawatts Off Toronto's Grid

TORONTO, Jan. 26 /CNW/ -

NEWS

Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("Toronto Hydro"), in partnership with the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) and the City of Toronto's Cavalcade of Lights, wrapped up its sixth annual 'Festive Light Exchange' program with impressive results. In exchange for two strings of old, energy-inefficient incandescent seasonal lights, Toronto Hydro gave out approximately 10,400 strings of LED lights over the past Holiday Season. This represents an electricity reduction of about 2.3 megawatts. One megawatt is equal to 1 million watts.

FACTS

    
    -   Toronto residents brought in more than 22,000 strings of old
        incandescent lights.
    -   Last year, Toronto residents returned 18,500 strings of old
        incandescent lights.
    -   Since the program began in 2005, approximately 76,000 old,
        inefficient incandescent strings have been retired overall. Seasonal
        LED lights use up to 95 per cent less electricity than traditional,
        incandescent lights. All copper, plastic and glass collected from the
        old strings of incandescent lights are fully recycled by Toronto
        Hydro.
    -   In 2009, Toronto Hydro removed approximately 40 MW from the grid with
        its portfolio of conservation and demand management programs. In
        total, that's enough electricity to power over 27,000 homes. Since
        launching its programs in 2005, Toronto Hydro has removed more than
        422 MW from the grid.
    

QUOTE - John Kiru, Executive Director, TABIA

"Who would have thought that simple Christmas lights could have generated such savings... just goes to show what one light at a time can achieve."

LINKS: For more information on Toronto Hydro-Electric System's electricity conservation programs: http://www.torontohydro.com

Boilerplate

The Corporation is a holding company, which wholly-owns the following subsidiaries:

    
    -   Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("LDC") - which distributes
        electricity and engages in Conservation and Demand Management ("CDM")
        activities; and
    -   Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. ("TH Energy") - which provides
        street lighting services and develops energy efficiency products and
        services.
    

Sources:

    
    -   Number of old strings collected - TABIA reports.
    -   Demand savings - calculation based on TABIA reports.
    -   Number of homes - based on average household demand of 1.47 kW
        provided by Toronto Hydro- Electric System Ltd.
    -   LED efficiency - manufacturer and industry standards. (Holiday
        Creations Energy Star LED holiday lights)
    

For further information: Tanya Bruckmueller, Toronto Hydro, W: [phone], C: [phone], [e-mail]