Toronto Hydro, Enbridge and ORHMA dish up savings for local restaurants

TORONTO, Nov. 10 /CNW/ - Going green can make more green for restaurants. According to a recent Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("Toronto Hydro") poll, seven out of 10 Torontonians would prefer to dine at a green establishment (1). And being green doesn't just make these businesses more attractive to potential customers; it can also help translate into higher profits through lower energy and maintenance costs.

That's why Toronto Hydro, alongside Enbridge Gas Distribution and the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA), is launching Green-Eats. This new program provides one convenient location for local restaurants to source available programs and financial incentives to help pay for the cost of energy efficiency retrofits.

"The benefits of being a green business go beyond saving energy. Businesses that do the right thing are often rewarded by lower operating costs and positive customer feedback," said Anthony Haines, President and Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Hydro. "Toronto Hydro is proud to support restaurant owners by offering business incentive programs like Green-Eats to our menu of conservation programs."

"Enbridge is proud to collaborate with Toronto Hydro and the ORHMA to deliver the Green-Eats program," said Arunas Pleckaitas, Vice President, Enbridge Gas Distribution. "In today's tough economic environment, working together to help make it easier for restaurants to reduce their energy use, costs and environmental footprint makes good business sense."

"ORHMA is proud to work alongside Toronto Hydro and Enbridge Gas Distribution to deliver this Ontario Power Authority approved Toronto-centric restaurant conservation and efficiency program," said Fatima Finnegan, Director, Corporate Marketing and Development, ORHMA. "The Green-Eats platform provides a one stop solution for any foodservice member establishment. We're making it easy for Toronto restaurants to participate and understand incentives that are available to them."

Green-Eats participants  receive incentives for energy improvements in lighting, water use, ventilation, air conditioning and other qualifying  building upgrades related to energy efficiency.

Green-Eats is available to all Toronto restaurants that are members of ORHMA and have commercial accounts with Toronto Hydro and Enbridge Gas Distribution.

Links: green-eats.ca

About Toronto Hydro Corporation

Toronto Hydro Corporation is a holding company, which wholly-owns two principal subsidiaries:

• Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited - which distributes electricity and engages in Conservation and Demand Management ("CDM") activities; and
• Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. - which provides street lighting services.

The principal business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries is the distribution of electricity by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited. Toronto Hydro-Electric System owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 696,000 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 Ontario.

(1)     Leger Marketing

About Enbridge Gas Distribution

Enbridge Gas Distribution has a more than 160-year history and is Canada's largest natural gas distribution company. It is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution and one of the 2010 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. Enbridge Inc. has been selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2010 and is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers. Enbridge Gas Distribution and its affiliates distribute natural gas to about 1.9 million customers in Ontario, Quebec, New York State and New Brunswick. For more information, visit www.enbridgegas.com.

About ORHMA

The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) is the largest provincial hospitality association in Canada. Representing more than11,000 establishments across the province, the ORHMA is uniquely positioned to represent the interests of both the foodservice and accommodation industries while providing value driven programs to its members. Visit the ORHMA on the web at www.orhma.com.

For further information:

Media contact:

Denise Attallah, Toronto Hydro
Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected]

Chris Meyer, Enbridge Gas Distribution
Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected]