PowerStream to lead rollout of time-of-use electricity prices

BARRIE, SIMCOE COUNTY &YORK REGION, ON – Customers of PowerStream Barrie Hydro Distribution will be among the first electricity consumers in Ontario to benefit from the province-wide rollout of time-of-use rates.

PowerStream Barrie Hydro Distribution will begin migrating customers in the Aurora area onto time-of use rates beginning in August, with all of its customers expected on the new three-tiered pricing by summer 2011. More than one million Ontario households will be on time-of-use rates by next summer.

Last week, George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, announced the province-wide rollout of time-of-use rates, explaining that these rates will equip Ontarians with real time information to make smart decisions about how and when they use electricity. The rates reflect the reality that electricity costs the most when demand is highest. By shifting electricity use to low demand times, consumers will benefit by being charged for their electricity at a lower price.

Ontarians will be better able to manage their electricity costs by reducing overall consumption and by shifting their use of electric household appliances, such as laundry appliances and dishwashers, to later in the evening or on weekends. Shifting use of other discretionary appliances such as air conditioners can also help.
Under the rates, off-peak times occur on evenings and weekends. Currently, evening off-peak hours start at 10 pm. As of November 1, off-peak times will move to 9 pm, offering Ontario families an additional evening hour at the lowest rate.

As of May 1, the three time-of-use prices for electricity are (per kilowatt hour):
• On-peak: 9.1 cents
• Mid-peak: 7.6 cents
• Off-peak: 4.2 cents

“The rollout of time-of-use rates is a very important step to help instil in electricity consumers a culture of conservation,” Barrie MPP Aileen Carroll said.

Brian Bentz, PowerStream’s President and CEO, pointed out how the utility was taking a leadership position in the Ontario-wide time-of-use initiative by being the first large utility to successfully complete testing, integrating and having its customers’ billing data processed through the province’s centralized Meter Data Management Repository (MDMR).

“Several members of our Smart Meter Steering Committee have been working closely for sometime now with the MDMR team at the Independent Electricity System Operator to ensure a smooth transition for customers being moved to time-of-use rates,” Bentz added.

Time-of-use electricity consumption is measured by a smart meter. There are currently more than 2.4 million smart meters installed in Ontario. Three small utilities in Ontario have already converted approximately 40,000 customers to time-of-use rates. As more utilities switch their customers over to the new pricing structure, that number is expected to swell to an estimated 3.6 million by June 2011.

For more information on smart meters and time-of-use rates, visit the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure at http://www.mei.gov.on.ca.wsd6.korax.net.

About PowerStream
PowerStream is the second largest municipally-owned local electricity distribution company in Ontario, providing service to more than 315,000 residential and business customers in Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Beeton, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Markham, Penetanguishene Richmond Hill, Thornton, Tottenham and Vaughan. It is an incorporated entity, jointly owned by the City of Barrie, the City of Vaughan and the Town of Markham.