Canadian Electricity Association Recognizes Hydro One Networks Inc. and
Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited for Excellence in Sustainability
Performance

OTTAWA, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - Hydro One Networks Inc. and Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited were recognized for outstanding performance on sustainable development under the Canadian Electricity Association's (CEA) Sustainable Electricity program. The 2009 Sustainable Electricity Awards, adjudicated by the program's independent Public Advisory Panel*, recognize best sustainability performers in environmental, social, and company of the year categories.

The Environmental Commitment Award was presented to Hydro One Networks Inc. for its biodiversity initiative aimed at minimizing woodland habitat loss due to the construction of a new transmission line between the Bruce Nuclear Complex and the Milton Switching Station. "We were extremely pleased with Hydro One's approach to habitat enhancement in the affected area, and the approach they utilized to develop an ecosystem based valuation methodology in partnership with various local stakeholders," said Mike Harcourt, Chair of the Sustainable Electricity Public Advisory Panel.

As the first North American utility to roll out smart meters and Time of Use (TOU) rates in a major city, Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited was presented with the Social Responsibility Award for their Get Smart Toronto communications initiative. The campaign was a highly integrated marketing and communications strategy to prepare its customers for the smart meter rollout. "This is an example of the electricity sector becoming more and more innovative in the delivery of electricity to consumers, while engaging stakeholders in a meaningful manner," noted Will Bridge, Chief Technology Officer at TransAlta, and Executive Chair of Sustainable Electricity.

The Panel also selected Hydro One Networks Inc. as the recipient of the 2009 Sustainability Company of the Year Award for its outstanding performance in all three areas of sustainable development - environment, social, and economic. In 2009, Hydro One Networks Inc. showed a substantial commitment to developing an electricity grid that is modern, flexible and smart; and one that will contribute to a better environment, and deliver clean renewable power to and from growing communities in the province of Ontario.

"The electricity industry is becoming increasingly sustainable in its activities, and we support the leadership and innovation shown by Hydro One and Toronto Hydro," said Pierre Guimond, President and CEO of CEA.

The Canadian Electricity Association encourages frank and open discussion about some of the options and challenges Canadians must face with respect to the modernization and greening of Canada's electricity system. Tyler Hamilton, representing the Toronto Star, is this year's recipient of the Sustainable Electricity Journalist of the Year Award for his "…high level of enterprise journalism," that was held by our experts to be "comprehensive, informative, and well written in developing a number of themes and stories about sustainable electricity."

Founded in 1891, the CEA is the voice of the Canadian electricity industry, promoting electricity as the critical enabler of the economy and Canadians' expectations for an enhanced quality of life. Its members ensure reliable electricity service to Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

*An independent jury of media and communications experts adjudicated on the Sustainable Electricity Journalist of the Year Award.

2009 Sustainability Awards
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

Overview
Sustainable Electricity is an industry-wide sustainability program developed and implemented by the electric utility members of the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA). The program seeks out synergies between the three pillars of sustainability -environmental, social, and economic - which guide the electricity industry to manage its impacts and contribute to a prosperous future for Canadians.

Celebrating success is a key element of the program and the annual awards recognize the organizations which are able to apply innovative thinking to problems in a way that combines environmental, social, and economic factors to create the most optimal outcome. Award submissions were evaluated by the program's independent Public Advisory Panel, which is currently chaired by the Hon. Mike Harcourt, 30^th premier of British Columbia.

The Sustainable Electricity Awards include the following categories:

•  Environmental Commitment
•  Social Responsibility
•  Economic Excellence
•  Journalist of the Year
•  Sustainability Company of the Year

There were award recipients in all the above categories, except the Economic Excellence category.

Environmental Commitment Award
The 2009 Sustainable Electricity Environmental Commitment Award was presented to Hydro One Inc. for its biodiversity initiative to minimize woodland habitat loss in the Bruce to Milton Transmission Reinforcement Project. The Bruce to Milton Project is one of several projects that Hydro One is undertaking to meet Ontario's electricity delivery needs of the 21^st Century. The project involved the construction of a new 180 km double-circuit 500 kV transmission line, achieved by widening the existing transmission corridor between the Bruce Nuclear Complex and the Milton Switching Station.

Hydro One's biodiversity initiative was designed to ensure that there would be no net loss of habitat. This initiative was done in partnership with interest groups, stewardship councils, municipalities, provincial agencies, and aboriginal communities. Hydro One is currently in the process of signing partnership agreements with select local organizations to enhance habitat creation. Currently, total habitat gain due to enhancement is approximately 380 ha, compared to the 280 ha of habitat loss due to the Bruce to Milton Project.

Social Responsibility Award
The 2009 Social Responsibility Award was presented to Toronto Hydro for its "Get Smart Toronto" communication initiative on smart meters and Time of Use (TOU) rates. Toronto Hydro is the first North American utility to roll out mandatory TOU rates in a major city. The campaign was a highly integrated marketing and communications strategy to prepare Toronto Hydro's customers for the provincially mandated smart meter rollout. The communications campaign included a website providing conservation and time-shifting tips, an online service representative, a special secured web portal for customers to better understand their personalized electricity usage, brochures, auto-dialer telephone reminders, bill communications, smart meter kiosk, TOU tool kit with discount coupons, TOU educational decals to affix to appliances, and community outreach at over 35 events in 2009.

As of October 1, 2010 approximately 500,000 customers were paying TOU rates. The goal is to transition almost 700,000 customers to TOU rates by end of 2010.

Journalist of the Year Award
This year marks the establishment of the Sustainable Electricity Journalist of the Year Award. The following are the key criteria used to select the inaugural winner:

1.	The winner is someone who regularly covered electricity and sustainability issues in Canada in 2009.
2.	The winner helped significantly enhance awareness of electricity and sustainability issues with the general public and stakeholders.
3.	The nominee has advanced one or all of the Canadian Electricity Association's pillars of sustainable development: environment, society and economy.
4.	The subject matter of the nominee's articles may include, but is not limited to:

•   Electricity supply and demand in Canada
•   Electricity pricing, smart meters, and Time of Use Rates
•   Power generation sources and sustainability
•   Electricity transmission and renewable energy interconnection/integration
•   Power usage, conservation and energy efficiency
•   Energy security
•   Role of stakeholders (e.g. local communities, Aboriginal Peoples) in electricity projects
•   Electricity sector and the role of human capita

5.	The winner dealt with sustainability issues on a national level or of broad interest to Canadians. Less weight was given to coverage that was fuel or technology specific, or only relevant to a single municipal, regional or provincial jurisdiction.

The winner was selected by an independent judging panel comprising:

• Don Newman, Chair Canada 2020 and former CBC broadcaster;
• Chris Waddell, Director of the School of Journalism, Carleton University;
• Glenn Schneider, Public Affairs Manager, Manitoba Hydro.

Sustainability Company of the Year Award
The 2009 Sustainability Company of the Year was presented to Hydro One Inc. for its exemplary performance in all three areas of sustainable development - environment, social and economic. Hydro One owns and operates transmission and distribution assets in Ontario with nearly 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province.

Hydro One showed a significant commitment in 2009 to developing a modern electricity grid that is flexible, smart and will contribute to a better environment, while delivering renewable power to and from growing communities in Ontario. To date, Hydro One has already deployed more than 1.2 million smart meters. The utility has also showed its commitment to the environment and to stakeholder engagement through its biodiversity initiative and has also made strides in reducing its carbon footprint through initiatives such as the Tire Smart Program, and the purchase of fuel efficient and hybrid company service vehicles. Overall, CEA honoured Hydro One as the 2009 Sustainability Company of the Year for taking a holistic approach to managing its impacts and improving its overall environmental, social, and economic performance.

CEA members are committed to continuously improving their sustainable development performance. To learn more about the Sustainable Electricity program and CEA member performance, please visit us at www.SustainableElectricity.ca

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