Will this be Toronto's darkest hour?

Toronto Hydro sponsors Earth Hour and brings back popular online contest How Low Can We Go, T.O.!

TORONTO, March 3 /CNW/ - Toronto Hydro wants to know just how low Torontonians can go - for Earth Hour that is! To raise awareness for the global phenomenon and to encourage participation in this year's event, Toronto Hydro is bringing back its online contest, How Low Can We Go T.O.!

Last year, Toronto "lowered to the occasion" and dropped approximately 15 per cent. That's the equivalent of removing 300,000 homes from the grid for one hour. Toronto Hydro will measure the city-wide reduction in real-time during Earth Hour and will provide updates to the media as power consumption drops in the city.

On March 27, 2010, Toronto will go dark again to raise awareness about climate change. And to get into the Earth Hour spirit, Toronto Hydro is urging Torontonians to visit www.howlowcanwegoto.ca in advance of the event to guess what this year's reduction in electricity use will be in Toronto. If they pick the correct range of electricity drop, they're automatically entered in a draw to win one of 10 Earth Hour prize packs.

The prize pack includes one solar powered backpack capable of charging small electronic devices, one crank handle flashlight and one solar powered clock as well as other Earth Hour inspired items.

This year, we want to lower the demand even further, and we need your help. Log on and have your say - then don't forget to turn your lights off (and anything else that you can!) during Earth Hour at 8:30 p.m. on March 27!

For more information on how to turn every hour into Earth Hour, don't forget to visit www.torontohydro.com/conservation to view Toronto Hydro's full portfolio of conservation and demand management programs for residential and business customers.

    
    About Toronto Hydro

    Toronto Hydro Corporation is a holding company which, through its
principal subsidiaries:
    -  Distributes electricity and engages in conservation and demand
       management ("CDM") activities; and
    -  Provides street lighting services.
    

The principal business of Toronto Hydro is the distribution of electricity by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited. Toronto Hydro-Electric System owns and operates $1.9 billion of Capital Assets comprised primarily of an electricity distribution system that delivers electricity to approximately 690,000 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.

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