74% support for keeping hydro public in Sudbury as new ad campaign launches

SUDBURY, ON, Jan. 22, 2015 /CNW/ - According to a new poll, 74% of Sudbury voters oppose the sale of assets like Hydro One. This research by Environics comes as The Society of Energy Professionals ("The Society") kicks off its "Keep Hydro Public" campaign. The campaign will include television, radio and print advertising targeted to voters in the Sudbury by-election.

The campaign is part of The Society's response to an Ontario government-commissioned report that recommends selling off Hydro One's distribution networks, and consolidating local utilities as privately-owned companies. The campaign will highlight evidence that shows in Ontario and the United States private distribution companies are more expensive than their public counterparts. The advertisements will also bring attention to the loss of public control over an essential utility.

"We believe a by-election here in Sudbury is a great opportunity to encourage voters to find out who will stand up and keep our hydro distribution companies in public hands," said Society President Scott Travers. "We are siding with electricity users and ratepayers in this by-election rather than a political party. We are asking Sudbury voters to cast their ballot for any candidate who supports keeping hydro public."

The advertising begins today, January 22, 2015, on local TV, radio and in the Sudbury Star. The campaign also includes a microsite at www.keephydropublic.ca. The ads will run through the by-election until the blackout period before Election Day on February 5.

The Society has also asked all candidates to respond to a questionnaire seeking their positions on keeping hydro public. The results of the questionnaire will be posted at keephydropublic.ca/compare_candidates.

Following the by-election, the campaign will continue across the province.

Background

The television and radio ads are available at www.keephydropublic.ca/home

The Environics poll was an automated telephone survey of 1,101 Sudbury residents conducted on January 21, 2015 with a margin of error of +/- 3% 19 times out of 20. Of those polled, 74% oppose the sale of assets like Hydro One, 20% support the sale and 6% did not have an opinion. The question put to respondents was: "The Ontario Liberal government is considering selling off assets such as parts of Hydro One in order to raise capital. Press one if you support selling assets to raise money, press two if you are opposed."

SOURCE The Society of Energy Professionals

Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler at [phone]