Early warm weather means an increase in electricity use in Toronto

Toronto Hydro reminding customers that air conditioners can account for large amount of power use

TORONTO, May 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Toronto is expecting hotter than normal temperatures over the next few days, and with that comes an increase in demand for electricity.

Air conditioning can account for approximately 50% of summer electricity costs, and with this early rise in temperatures, we want our customers to know there are ways to stay cool while still conserving electricity:

• Customers can conserve energy by closing their blinds during the day as the sun can raise the inside temperature of a home
• Use fans instead of air conditioning when possible as ceiling fans can save you approximately $20.50 a month on cooling costs.
• By setting air conditioning at 25°C during the day and lowering it to 22°C during off-peak hours, there are cost savings as well. You can save approximately $18 a month

For more conservation tips, visit www.torontohydro.com/conservation

QUICK FACTS

• Forecasters are predicting slightly higher than normal temperatures this summer
• Last year's peak electricity demand was 4,404 MW in August

QUOTES

"The warm temperatures have arrived much earlier this year, which means the hum of air conditioners is being heard throughout the city. We want to make our customers aware of tips for staying cool, while also conserving electricity, as there's an entire summer still ahead of us."

-       Tori Gass, Spokesperson, Toronto Hydro

ABOUT TORONTO HYDRO

Toronto Hydro owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 757,000 customers located in the city of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 18% of the electricity consumed in the province of Ontario.

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SOURCE Toronto Hydro Corporation

Image with caption: "Closing blinds during the day can help keep your home cool (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160527_C6134_PHOTO_EN_701290.jpg

Tori Gass, Communications and Public Relations, 416-903-4037, [email protected]; 24-hours media line: 416-903-6845, [email protected]