PowerStream recognized again for being ‘Business of the Year’

Utility wins Vaughan Chamber of Commerce award for second time in five years

VAUGHAN, ON – PowerStream Inc., an electricity distribution company jointly owned by the City of Vaughan, the Town of Markham and the City of Barrie, was named “Business of the Year” Thursday evening at an awards banquet held by one of the Chamber of Commerce organizations that operate within its service territory.

The award, for companies with over 25 employees, was one of 11 presented by the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce during its 21st Annual Business Achievement Awards extravaganza held at La Primavera Hospitality and Convention Centre in Vaughan. It was the second time in five years PowerStream has won the award.

“It is a tremendous honour to win this award just once,” Peter Meffe, PowerStream Chair said after receiving the award on behalf of the utility’s 500 employees. “To win it a second time in five years is an accomplishment that can be attributed to the vision of our shareholders, the leadership provided by our Board of Directors and most importantly, the hard work and dedication of our staff.”

The Business Achievement Awards are presented each year by the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce to organizations/individuals that have “demonstrated superior business acumen, social awareness and an economic contribution to the community of Vaughan.” Selection criteria for the ‘Business of the Year’ award include customer service and reliability, contributions to the community, leadership and entrepreneurship, sales growth, productivity and quality improvements, product innovation and technology and employee labour relations.

Some of the achievements and factors contributing to PowerStream’s selection as ‘Business of the Year’ this time around included its merger with Barrie Hydro, donating more than $130,000 to the United Way, contributing $60,000 to ‘Winter Warmth’, raising $28,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, being recognized by the Ministry of the Environment as one of Ontario’s Environmental Leaders, named ‘Smart Commute Employer of the Year’ for North Toronto/Vaughan, winning the Ontario Clean Air Alliances’ ‘Peakbuster Award’ for utilities, developing an employee vanpool program, being seen as an industry leader in the installation of smart meters and the migration of customers to time-of-use rates, educating and delivering conservation programs to customers that helped save 45.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity, having a 2.2 percent increase in the number of customers served, developing a commercial solar PV program and consolidating assets as well as inventories to drive further efficiencies

About PowerStream PowerStream is the second largest municipally-owned electricity distribution company in Ontario, providing service to more than 320,000 customers residing or owning a business in communities located immediately north of Toronto and in Central Ontario. The communities served include Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Beeton, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Markham, Penetanguishene, Richmond Hill, Thornton, Tottenham and Vaughan. PowerStream is an incorporated entity, jointly owned by the City of Barrie, the City of Vaughan and the Town of Markham.