Torontonians predict 2010 to be best Earth Hour to-date

TORONTO, March 23 /CNW/ - According to Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited's online contest, How Low Can We Go T.O.?, Torontonians are confident the City can go even lower this year! During Earth Hour 2010 that is...

Since the contest was launched this month, Torontonians have been visiting www.howlowcanwegoto.ca to predict how much electricity the City will collectively shed when it goes dark for one hour this coming Saturday for Earth Hour.

Survey says: more than 75 per cent predict that Toronto will exceed last year's impressive results by dropping more than 15 per cent - which is more than removing approximately 300,000 homes from the grid!

The contest closes as the clock strikes 8:30 p.m. on March 27th and the hour without power begins, but Torontonians can join Toronto Hydro as it measures the City's official electricity drop and provides online updates every 10 minutes on the ones. In addition, Toronto Hydro will bring back its live blog for Earth Hour featuring interviews with control room experts and conservation tips to help make Earth Hour every hour.

And for those interested in finding out how much electricity an individual household saved during the Hour - Toronto Hydro customers who are signed up for the Time-of-Use rates portal can log into their account and view how much electricity they reduced. There are already 100,000 Torontonians managing their electricity usage online at torontohydro.com/tou.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest open to residents of the City of Toronto, at least 18 years of age. Chances of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received by 8:30 p.m. March 27, 2010. Winning entrants are required to correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question. Limit one prize per person or household. Other terms and conditions may apply. Contest runs between 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 1, 2010 through to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, March 27, 2010.

About Toronto Hydro

The Corporation is a holding company which through its principal subsidiaries:

    
    -   Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("LDC") - distributes
        electricity and engages in Conservation and Demand Management
        activities; and

    -   Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. ("TH Energy") - provides street
        lighting services.
    

The principal business of the Corporation is the distribution of electricity by LDC. LDC owns and operates an electricity distribution system that delivers electricity to approximately 690,000 customers located in the City of Toronto.

For further information: Media Contact: Denise Attallah, Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited, [phone], [email protected]