2010 Power Pledge Community Challenge This Wednesday

Almost 90 Ontario Communities Vie for Conservation Honours

TORONTO, Aug. 9 /CNW/ - In just two days, communities across Ontario will be competing to be the provincial champions of energy conservation.

Almost 90 municipalities, representing 82 percent of Ontarians, have committed to the second province-wide Power Pledge Community Challenge. The complete list of participating communities and their achievements can be found on an interactive map at the campaign website: www.powerpledge.ca.

The Power Pledge Community Challenge is part of a five-month awareness campaign that encourages all Ontarians to commit to a few simple, meaningful conservation actions that save energy and money, and help protect the environment.

There are two ways for communities to win the Power Pledge Community Challenge:

1. The communities with the highest number of Power Pledges per capita on August 11 win both a trophy and a $10,000 award to support a qualified local renewable energy project;
2. The community achieving the largest reduction in electricity use from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Community Challenge Day, August 11, will win the megawatt-reduction category and the prestigious Woodstock Cup

You can help your community win by taking the Power Pledge at www.powerpledge.ca. Power Pledgers can earn 20 AIR MILES® reward miles and donate an additional 10 reward miles to one of three designated charities. Pledges will be accepted online until August 31, 2010.

In 2009, Sioux Lookout achieved the highest percentage of its residents who took the pledge. Kingston won the Woodstock Cup by reducing its consumption on Challenge Day by 7.8 percent.

The Power Pledge Community Challenge is a collaboration of the Ontario Power Authority, the Electricity Distributors Association, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Independent Electricity System Operator -- and their associated members. The campaign also acknowledges the long-standing leadership of the City of Woodstock by annually awarding the Woodstock Cup to the winner of the megawatt-reduction category.

Phantom power - the electricity consumed by many electronics devices turned off but left plugged in - can add up to 15 percent of total household consumption. Reducing phantom power through the use of power bars is a focus of this year's Power Pledge campaign.

Quote
"Energy conservation is a win-win for all Ontarians," says Ontario Power Authority CEO Colin Andersen. "Together, we can all save money, save energy and help the environment."

For further information:

Media Contact:

Tim Butters
Ontario Power Authority
416-969-6307 / 1-800-797-9604