Something to Celebrate - Long Weekend = Lowest Electricity Rates

TORONTO, Aug. 2, 2013 /CNW/ - Looking for another reason to celebrate this long weekend? Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (Toronto Hydro) reminds customers to enjoy OFF-PEAK rates - the lowest electricity price all weekend long.

The following dates are designated OFF-PEAK at 6.7 cents/kWh all day long:

• Saturday, August 3
• Sunday, August 4
• Monday, August 5

With the recent heat wave that hit the city, summer bills may be higher than expected.  Customers are reminded to take advantage of off-peak times to offset air conditioning use and to help manage their bills. Shifting electricity use also helps reduce strain on the grid during periods when electricity consumption is at its peak.

Customers interested in learning more about their electricity consumption can sign up for Toronto Hydro's TOU website (torontohydro.com/tou) to view their personal electricity usage on an hourly, daily and weekly basis. The data is updated as recently as the previous day.

Here are some tips on how to conserve electricity and save money:

• Set the temperature at least one degree higher than you normally would.  Turn it off when you're not at home OR use a programmable thermostat to turn the AC off (or up) during peak times.
• Use a ceiling fan to supplement your AC; you can raise the temperature on your thermostat and feel just as comfortable.
• Keep doors and windows closed while the AC is running.
• Open doors and windows, and turn off the AC, to take advantage of cooler temperatures (21-24 degrees)
• Keep window shades drawn during the afternoon to minimize the passive solar heating effect of the sun.
• Hang clothes to dry.
• Sign up for peaksaver^® PLUS and get a free in-home energy display. It can tell you at a glance how much electricity you are consuming at any particular time. 

For more tips and information on Toronto Hydro's conservation programs like peaksaver^® PLUS visit torontohydro.com/peaksaver or torontohydro.com/smartsummer

Our World. Our City. Our Responsibility. See what we are doing to be safe, reliable and sustainable at torontohydro.com/responsibility

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SOURCE: Toronto Hydro Corporation

Christina Basil, Media Relations, Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited 
[email protected]

W: 416-542-3162 
C: 416-902-9437