Toronto Hydro reports a significant drop in electricity demand during Earth Hour

TORONTO, March 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Congratulations Toronto! Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("Toronto Hydro") is reporting that the city dropped approximately 193 megawatts (MW) of electricity during Earth Hour. This is equivalent to removing approximately 128,000 homes off Toronto's electricity grid.

Toronto Hydro saw the electricity consumption decline right at 8:30 p.m. as homes and businesses shut off lights, computers, television sets and other non-essential appliances and equipment. Normal demand on Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. this month averages 2827 MW. A Megawatt is equal to one-million watts. During Earth Hour, the drop in electricity was approximately seven per cent.

Toronto Hydro encourages customers to turn each hour into Earth Hour by taking advantage of numerous conservation and demand management programs and incentives that the utility offers year-round. For more information, tips and conservation and demand management programs, visit torontohydro.com/saveonenergy.

Customers are encouraged to build on the momentum of Earth Hour by participating in the saveONenergy COUPON EVENT - a month-long opportunity to enjoy instant savings on a wide range of qualified energy-efficient products, including ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, clotheslines and power bars. These coupons are available at participating retailers now until April 29, 2012. For more information, visit torontohydro.com/coupons.

Customers can also view their Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity consumption profile, to see their hourly, weekly and monthly electricity consumption at torontohydro.com/tou and manage their hydro bills by shifting consumption to lower-priced off peak time periods. If not already signed up for access to the TOU website, they can follow the simple instructions found on the TOU website.

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 owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 709,000 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.

The information in these materials is based on information currently available to Toronto Hydro Corporation and its affiliates (together hereinafter referred to as "Toronto Hydro"), and is provided for information purposes only. Toronto Hydro does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of the information and undertakes no obligation to revise or update these materials. Toronto Hydro (including its directors, officers, employees, agents and subcontractors) hereby waives any and all liability for damages of whatever kind and nature which may occur or be suffered as a result of the use of these materials or reliance on the information therein.

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Media contact:

Tanya Bruckmueller, Toronto Hydro-Electric System
[email protected]
W: 416-542-2621

C: 416-903-0440