If You Were in Charge of Hydro One Would You Change How Spending is Allocated?

-Customer Consultation on Five-Year Distribution System Plan-

TORONTO, June 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Hydro One is asking its customers to complete an online survey at www.ipsosresearch.com/hydroone.  The purpose of the survey is to obtain customer input necessary to shape future investments in electricity assets as the Company begins to build a five-year plan for its electricity distribution system. Hydro One is encouraging all customers to have their say in its investment plan by completing the survey by July 18, 2016.

All feedback concerning customer needs and preferences will influence plans the Company will submit to the Ontario Energy Board.  The Ontario Energy Board will examine the plan in a full public hearing and will ultimately determine new distribution rates for Hydro One's customers between 2018 and 2022.

 "The purpose of the consultation process is to understand whether Hydro One customer needs are being met and which types of reliability and service improvements customers value most," said Warren Lister, VP, Customer Service, Hydro One. "Our customers' point of view is critical to this process and we hope they will take a few minutes to have their say."

In addition to the survey, the Company's distribution customers have had the opportunity to provide their input through workshops, focus groups, and/or one-on-one discussions.

In addition to meeting customers' needs, the plan will address:

• aging electricity infrastructure; some of which was built in the 1950s and 1960s;
• responding to power outages and repairing the electricity system, particularly following significant weather events;
• power quality and reliability enhancements; and,
• offering new products, services and web-enabled tools to make it easier for customers to do business with Hydro One.

Quick Facts

• Hydro One's distribution rates are approved by the Ontario Energy Board. The rate setting process is open and transparent, with opportunities for public participation.
• Hydro One must submit evidence to demonstrate the financial investment needed to distribute safe and reliable electricity to its customers.
• Distribution costs are contained in the delivery line of the bill. On average, electricity distribution services account for 29 per cent of a Hydro One bill. This amount is collected by Hydro One to pay for poles, lines, transformers and other equipment that makes electricity delivery possible.
• Hydro One is the largest electricity distribution company in Ontario, providing electricity to 25 per cent of the province – more than 1.3 million customers.
• With the largest and most vast service territory, Hydro One is the only utility in Ontario with more distribution poles (1.6 M) than customers.

About the Company

Hydro One Limited is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario with approximately $24.3 billion in assets and 2015 revenues of over $6.5 billion. The company delivers electricity safely and reliably to over 1.3 million customers across the province of Ontario, and to large industrial customers and municipal utilities. Hydro One owns and operates Ontario's approximately 29,000 km circuit high-voltage transmission network and an approximately 123,000 circuit km primary low-voltage distribution network. Hydro One Limited common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: H).

SOURCE Hydro One Inc.

contact Hydro One Media Relations 24 hours a day at 1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868. Our website is www.HydroOne.com.