Hydro Ottawa Commits to Taking the Equivalent of 47,000 Homes off the Grid by 2020

Bryce Conrad, President and CEO of Hydro Ottawa, signs Energy Conservation Agreement

OTTAWA, Dec. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - An ambitious agreement with the Ontario Power Authority requires Hydro Ottawa to help its customers reduce electricity usage in the nation's capital by 394 million kilowatt hours (kWh) by the end of 2020. This reduction supports Ontario's Long Term Energy Plan to lessen the need for new electricity generation sources through conservation.

Hydro Ottawa is taking on the challenge to decrease electricity usage equivalent to removing 47,000 homes from the grid over the next six years. The aggressive target is nearly double what was previously expected from the province during the last four years of conservation programming. Leveraging existing provincial saveONenergy programs, the utility will be looking for new and innovative grass-roots conservation programs and incentives to engage all customers.  

The Energy Conservation Agreement was signed as part of the new Conservation First Framework, introduced by the Ontario Power Authority and under the direction of the Minister of Energy, Bob Chiarelli. The Framework is designed to reduce electricity consumption in the province by seven billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) or five percent by December 31, 2020.

The Conservation First Framework provides local distribution companies like Hydro Ottawa with long-term, stable funding for conservation and demand management programs to help achieve its targets.

Quotes

"The residents and businesses of Ottawa have proven that they are committed to a more energy efficient future. We continue to see a decrease year over year in electricity consumption, demonstrating that our conservation programs work. This new provincial target is unlike anything we've achieved before and it's certainly ambitious, but I'm confident that Ottawa residents and businesses will help us meet this target together because it's the right thing to do."

- Bryce Conrad, President and CEO, Hydro Ottawa

About Hydro Ottawa

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) owns and operates two subsidiary companies, Hydro Ottawa Limited and Energy Ottawa Inc. Hydro Ottawa Limited is the third-largest municipally owned electrical utility in Ontario serving more than 315,000 customers in the City of Ottawa and the Village of Casselman. Energy Ottawa Inc., Ottawa's largest producer of green power, generates renewable energy and provides commercial energy management services.

SOURCE: Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

Media contact, Daniel Séguin, Manager, Media and Public Affairs, Hydro Ottawa, Tel: [phone] ext. 7684, [email protected]