Toronto Hydro makes it easy to contribute to city-wide conservation efforts

Residents can keep cool and save electricity with peaksaver PLUS™

TORONTO, July 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Torontonians now have an easy way to help reduce the strain on the city's electrical grid and save energy using an in-home energy display  with the launch of a new program from Toronto Hydro, peaksaverPLUS™.

The initiative builds on the success of the existing peaksaver® program, which includes the installation of a small device, installed free of charge near air conditioning units, pool pumps and electric water heaters.  The device is activated from time-to-time, usually on hot summer weekdays between 12pm to 7 pm to reduce electricity use for short intervals by slowing down the cycle of the appliance.  Enrolling in peaksaverPLUS offers the same service, but now also includes a free in-home energy display that allows existing peaksaver customers - as well as any new and returning customers - to monitor their electricity usage and help them save money.

Participating is as simple as calling 1-877-487-8574 or by visiting www.torontohydro.com/peaksaver.* A video demonstration of how the device works is posted on Toronto Hydro's YouTube channel.

"Educating Torontonians about their electricity usage is an important first step in energy conservation. The new peaksaverPLUS in-home energy display will allow customers to see exactly what they're using on a real time basis, making it easy to understand what electrical loads contribute to their electricity bill and opportunities to shift their energy use to lower off peak rates and save on their electricity bill," said Chris Tyrrell, VP of Customer Care and Chief Conservation Officer at Toronto Hydro.

In order to better inform Torontonians about the impact of city-wide conservation efforts, energy expert Erin Way, from EcoSpark will today be showing a group of children how the energy display works and easy ways to save electricity in their homes every day.

About Toronto Hydro
The principal business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries is the distribution of electricity by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited. Toronto Hydro-Electric System owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 709,000 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.

*To participate, you must be a Toronto Hydro customer and have a central air conditioner.

Twitter - twitter.com/torontohydro
Facebook - facebook.com/torontohydro
YouTube - youtube.com/torontohydro

Image with caption: "The peaksaver PLUS™ in-home energy display allows customers to collectively reduce the strain on the city's electrical grid by monitoring their energy consumption. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120710_C7300_PHOTO_EN_16160.jpg

or to arrange an interview, please contact: 

Tanya Bruckmueller, Toronto Hydro-Electric System
E: [email protected]
W: 416-542-2621
C: 416-903-0440

Daina Astwood-George, APEX Public Relations
E: [email protected]
W: 416-934-2104