New Season Means New Rates - Winter Rates in Effect November 1

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("Toronto Hydro") reminds its customers that winter rates are now in effect. From November 1, 2012 - April 30, 2013, the time blocks and prices have changed. This means that customers need to be aware of when they are using electricity - shifting use to off-peak or mid-peak periods can help manage electricity bills.

The Ontario Energy Board regulates the prices and time periods, which change from summer to winter to better reflect seasonal consumption patterns. Toronto Hydro collects these charges and passes them through to power producers without mark-up.

As the weather gets colder and customers begin to turn up the heat at home, Toronto Hydro reminds customers to take advantage of off-peak times to help offset heating use and manage their bills. Peaksaver PLUS customers can monitor their electricity costs in real-time using the free in-home energy device. Existing customers are reminded to reprogram their energy device to reflect the new rates and time blocks. Watch to see how it's done youtube.com/torontohydro

New prices are as follows:

• On-peak (weekdays from 7-11 a.m. and from 5-7 p.m.) - 11.8 cents/kWh
• Mid-peak (weekdays from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.) - 9.9 cents/kWh
• Off-peak (weekdays from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. and all day on weekends and statutory holidays) - 6.3 cents/kWh 

Customers interested in learning more about their electricity consumption can sign up for Toronto Hydro's TOU website (torontohydro.com/tou). The data is updated as recently as the previous day. We've also added new usage alerts, which are e-mailed to customers to help them track and predict their electricity use. Using less means paying less. Visit: torontohydro.com/conservation.

In 2011, Toronto Hydro invested approximately $19.2 million in conservation and demand management programs achieving approximately 101,300 MWh in energy savings and an estimated total electricity reduction of 42.8 MW through the implementation of a broad portfolio of conservation and demand management programs for both residential and business customers.  To view the entire 2011 Corporate Responsibility report visit torontohydro.com/responsibility

About Toronto Hydro 

The principal business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries is the distribution of electricity by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited. Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 712,000 customers located in the City of Toronto.  It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 18% of the electricity consumed in the Province of Ontario.

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Video with caption: "Programming your peaksaver PLUS home energy display.". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/v/oyQtcDZWjTE?version=3&hl=en_US

SOURCE: Toronto Hydro Corporation

Tanya Bruckmueller, Toronto Hydro

[email protected]

T: 416-542-2621

C: 416-903-0440