Veridian Customers Lead the Province in Reducing Peak Electricity Demand

    AJAX, ON, Oct. 18 /CNW/ - Electricity consumers served by Veridian
Connections Inc. led Ontario in reducing peak electricity use this past
summer, helping the utility win a `Peak Buster' award from the Ontario Clean
Air Alliance. Veridian placed first in the large utility class and second
overall in the Clean Air Alliance's inaugural Peak Buster conservation
challenge.
    The challenge was established to promote electricity conservation on hot
summer days when widespread air conditioning use spurs the need for coal-fired
electricity generation. A reduction in electricity use during these peak
demand periods contributes to cleaner air and lower electricity prices.
    In announcing Veridian's award, Jack Gibbons of the Clean Air Alliance
explained that "Ontario's peak demand for electricity dropped by 4.7% from
2006 to 2007, but Veridian and its customers almost doubled this performance
with an 8.6% reduction." He adds, "This is great news for our environment, and
evidence that Veridian's customers have embraced the need for electricity
conservation."
    Peak electricity demand for the province occurred on August 1st in 2006
and on June 26th in 2007. Veridian's customers drew 505.7 megawatts of
electricity from the province-wide grid on the peak day in 2006, but only
462.20 megawatts on the peak day of this past summer. The year-over-year
reduction of 43.5 megawatts represents the amount of electricity used by a
typical city of about 20,000 residents.
    "I am very proud of what the Veridian team and Veridian customers have
done to "bust the peak" this summer," said Michael Angemeer, Veridian's
President and CEO. "This achievement is an indication of just what is possible
when conservation captures the imagination and commitment of our customers. We
look forward to even greater savings as we accelerate our electricity
conservation and demand management initiatives."
    Veridian has actively promoted electricity conservation over the past
three years, with programs for both residential and business customers. It is
also taking a leadership role in the Province of Ontario's smart meter
initiative, with a commitment for the deployment of 40,000 smart electricity
meters by the end of 2007.

    Veridian Connections Inc. safely and reliably delivers electricity to
more than 108,000 customers in the Cities of Pickering and Belleville, the
Towns of Ajax, Port Hope and Gravenhurst, and the communities of Uxbridge,
Bowmanville, Newcastle, Orono, Port Perry, Beaverton, Sunderland and
Cannington. Veridian Connections Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Veridian
Corporation. The City of Pickering, the Town of Ajax, the Municipality of
Clarington and the City of Belleville jointly own Veridian Corporation.
    Veridian is proud to be a founding member of powerWISE(R), a brand
created to promote energy conservation and reduce the demand for electricity
in Ontario. powerWISE(R) is a joint initiative of the Ontario government and
six of Ontario's largest electricity distribution companies. For more
information, visit: www.veridian.on.ca and www.powerwise.ca.

For further information:

For further information: Veridian: George Armstrong, Manager of
Regulatory Affairs and Key Projects, Veridian Connections Inc., (905) 427-9870
extension 2202; Ontario Clean Air Alliance: Jack Gibbons, Chair, Ontario Clean
Air Alliance, (416) 926-1907, extension 240